U.S. patent application number 09/798385 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for fire protection system.
Invention is credited to Finnell, Lee M..
Application Number | 20020139056 09/798385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25173260 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020139056 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Finnell, Lee M. |
October 3, 2002 |
Fire protection system
Abstract
A fire protection system employs a plurality of radio frequency
transmitter temperature sensors remotely located around a building
to be protected, one or more sprinkler heads coupled to a water
supply line and mounted on the roof of the building to provide
sprinkler coverage of the building and a perimeter area surrounding
the building, and control circuitry responsive to a radio frequency
signal transmited by one or more of the remotely located
temperature sensors when a temperature exceeding a threshold
temperature of the sensors is sensed thereby to initiate the flow
of water to the one or more sprinkler heads for a predetermined
period of time. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as
illustrative only of the principles of the fire protection system.
Further, since many modifications and changes will readily occur to
those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention
to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be
resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.
Inventors: |
Finnell, Lee M.; (Silt,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lee M. Finnell
573 CR 229
Silt
CO
81652
US
|
Family ID: |
25173260 |
Appl. No.: |
09/798385 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/1 ; 169/13;
239/207; 52/168 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C 37/40 20130101;
A62C 3/0292 20130101; A62C 3/0214 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/1 ; 52/168;
169/13; 239/207 |
International
Class: |
E04H 009/00; E04H
014/00; E04B 001/92 |
Claims
1. A fire protection system for preenting a building to be
protected and a desired perimeter area surrounding the building in
advance of an approaching fire, the system comprising. a plurality
of radio frequency transmitter temperature sensors positioned at
selected locations surrounding the building, each of the
temperature sensors having an associated threshold temperature and
being operative for transmitting a radio frequency signal whenever
an ambient temperature exceeding the threshold temperature is
sensed thereby; one or more sprinkler heads coupled to a water
supply line and mounted on the roof of the building to provide
sprinkler coverage of the building and a perimeter area surrounding
the building; an electric water alve coupled in the water supply
line; and control circuitry coupled to the electric water valve,
said control circuitry including radio frequency receiver means for
receiving said radio frequency signal, said control circuitry being
responsive to said radio frequency signal transmitted by one ore
more of the plurality of temperature sensors for actuating the
electric water valve to thereby permit the flow of water to the one
or more sprinkler heads for a predetermined period of time.
2. A fire protecteion system as in claim 1 wherein the threshold
temperature associated with each of the temperature sensors is 135
degrees F.
3. A fires protection system as in claim 1 wherein said control
circuitry includes adjustable timing relay means for setting said
predetermined period of time.
4. A fire protection system as in claim 1, further comprising a
manually actuated system shutoff valve coupled in series with said
electric water valve for enabling the user to manually shut off the
fire protection system.
5. A fire protection system as in claim 4, further comprising a
manually actuated drain valve coupled in series with said system
shutoff valve for enabling the user to drain water from the fire
protection system.
6. A fire protection system as in claim 1 further comprising a
manual bypass valve coupled around said electric water valve for
permitting the user to manually operate the fire protection
system.
7. A fire protection system as in claim 1 wherein each of said one
or more sprinklers is operative for wetting a circular area of
predetermined diameter.
8. A method for prewetting a building to be protected and a desired
perimeter area surrounding the building in advance of an
approaching fire, the method comprising: providing a plurality of
ratio frequency transmitter temperature sensors positioned at
selected locations surrounding the building, each of the
temperature sensors having an associated threshold temperature and
being operative for transmitting a radio frequency signal whenever
an ambient temperature exceeding the threshold temperature is
sensed thereby; providing one or more sprinkler heads couple to a
water supply line and mounted on the roof of the building to
provide sprinkler coverage of the bulding and a perimeter area
surrounding the building; providing an electric water supply valve
coupled in the water supply line; providing control circuitry
coupled to the electric water valve, said control circuitry
including radio frequency reciever means for recieving said radio
frequency siganl, said control circuitry being responsive to said
radio frequency signal transmitted by one or more of the plurality
of temperature sensors for actuating the electric water valve to
thereby permit the flow of water to the one or more sprinkler heads
for a predetermined period of time.
Description
[0001] This invention relates generally to fire protection systems
and, more particularly, to such a system for use in protecting
rural residential building located in high fire risk areas.
[0002] in the western third of the United States, arid conditions
create extreme fire danger during certain periods every year.
Residential building have become more vulnerable in recent years
due to the fact that many homes are left unattended for long
periods of time because they are occupied as vacation homes or by
families in which both parents work. Compounding this problem is
the proliferication of homes in scenic forested or mountainous
areas where the quality of life is superb, but the fire danger is
high.
[0003] While some of these areas are served by rural fire
protection districts, the response times of these entities are
generally very long. Moreover, many mountain homes are simply
without public fire protection of any kind. Home owners in these
high risks areas face significantly higher insurance premiums than
city homeowners, and some are not able to obtain fire coverage at
any cost.
[0004] Several systems are known for protecting buildings from the
risk of fire. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4428434
to GELAUDE, U.S. Pat. No. 5165482 to SMAGAC et. al, U.S. Pat. No.
5263543 to NIGRO, U.S. Pat. No. 5692571 to JACKSON and U.S. Pat.
No. 5732511 to SCOTT.
[0005] While these devices fulfill their objectives, they do not
describe a fire protection system with a single large gun nozzle
that is comparatively inexpensive to install and maintain and that
is effective in protecting single rural properties and multiple
homes on smaller city lots.
[0006] The present invention is therefore directed to a fire
protection system that is inexpensive to install and maintain and
that is simple yet effective in protecting a building from
approaching fire.
[0007] The present invention employs, in accordance with the
illustrated preferred embodiment, a plurality of radio frequency
temperature sensors remotely located around a building to be
protected, one or more sprinkler heads coupled to a water supply
line and mounted on the roof of the building to provide sprinkler
coverage of the building and/or a perimeter area surrounding the
building, and control circuitry responsive to a radio frequency
signal transmitted by one or more of the remotely located
temperature sensors when a temperature exceeding a threshold
temperature of the sensors is sensed thereby to initiate the flow
of water to the one or more sprinkler heads for a predetermined
period.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front elevation pictorial diagram of an exterior
of the fire protection system of the present invention,
illustrating the spiral relationship between a building to be
protected by an approaching fire, heat sensors positioned to detect
the approaching fire at a distance from the building, and the
sprinkler pattern required to adequetely protect the building.
[0009] FIG. 2 is atop plan pictorial diagram of the exterior
portion of the fire protection system of FIG. 1 illustrating the
areas of water coverage provided by a combination of a gun
sprinkler and/or two, supplemental smaller sprinklers.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan pictorial diagram illustrating the
areas of water coverage for for multiple houses on smaller city
lots.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the interior control portion of
the fire protection system of the fire protection system of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1,2 and 3 there shown pictorial
diagrams of the exterior Portion of the fire protection system of
the present invention that is designed to protect a building 100
from an approaching fire. A plurality of heat sensors 10 is
typically placed 300-500 feet from building 100, depending on
topography and foliage. Up tp 16 heat sensors 10 may be employed in
the system described herein. Heat sensors 10 preferable comprise
commercially available radio frequency transmitter temperature
sensors of the type having a treshold temperature of 135 degrees F.
and that transmit a 900 MHz radio signal when the sensed
temperature exceeds the threshold temperature. One or more water
sprinklers are preferably positioned at the highest point on the
roof of building 100 to provide a water spray pattern that extends
approximately 112 feet around the building 100. The sprinklers may
comprise a single gun sprinkler 20 that is centrally mounted on the
roof, such as the Rainbird SR103 EM sprinkler that sprinkler that
dispenses 57 gallons/minute over a full circle 222 feet in
diameter. This type of sprinkler facilities the wetting of foliage
at the highest point possible. A pair of supplimental sprinklers 22
may be positioned at each end of the roos, if desired. Sprinklers
may comprise, for example a pair of Rainbird 35A-TNT sprinklers,
which operate with 30-60PSI water pressure and provide circular
coverage extending approximately 42 feet. The water lines which
feed sprinklers 20, 22 may be conventionally fabricated using
copper or PVC materials. All water lines are slpoped to provide
drainage after the fire protection systems is used or tested.
Damage to the water lines caused by freezing in cold climates is
thereby prevented.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a water line 40 that
conveys water from the existing main water line in the building to
the roof-mounted sprinklers 20, 22 of FIGS. 1 and 2. IN situations
in which storage tank is needed to increase the volume of water
available to the fire protection system, the existing building
water line is divided, with one branch supplying the storage tank
as a fill line. It is controlled by a float in the tank which
maintains a desired water level in the tank at all times. A
conventinal amnual valve 42 serves as a system shut off valve when
it is desired to repair of drain the fire prtection system. A
conventional drain valve 44 is similarily conventionally employed
to drain water from the fire protection system. A manual bypass
valve 46 is provided in a bypass water line section 48 around an
electric water valve 50 to permit manual operation of the fire
protection system. Electric water valve may comprise a commercially
available RainBird 075--DV valve, whose operation is controled by
controll circuitry 52 that is mounted inside the building,
preferably adjacent water line 40. Control circuitry 52 comprises a
power switch 54, a conventional 24-volt transformer 56, a timing
relay 58, a pair of general purpose relays 60 and 62 a 12-volt AC
adapter and a reciever 66. Timing relay 58 , may comprise, for
example, a commercially available solid relay having and adjustable
time delay of 1.2 to 120 minutes.
[0014] Relay 60 may comprise a KP12V14 general purpose relay, and
relay 62 may comprise a Zetler individual relay. Reciever 66 may
comprise a commercially available Inevonics FA416R reciever.
[0015] In operation, one ore more of the remotely located heat
sensors 10 transmits a radio frequency signal whenever a
temperature exceding the threshold temperature of the sensor is
sensed. The transmitted signal is recieved by reciever 66, which in
turn supplies a control signal that is applied, through relay 62,
to timing relay 58. Timing relay 58 then signals relay 60 to
actuate electric water valve 50 for a predetermined period of time
to which timing relay 58 is set. The result is that water is
permitted to flow from the building water supply line through water
line 40 to the roof sprinklers 20, 22 thereby wet the building and
a perimeter area defined by the coverage of sprinklers 20, 22.
* * * * *