WO2012052296A2

WO2012052296A2 - Sprinkler device

Info

Publication number: WO2012052296A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/067428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ruben Skovgaard Slethei
Original assignee: Sprinkler Punkt As
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2011-10-06
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Also published as: WO2012052296A3; IES20100682A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sprinkler device (1) for automatic extinction of fires in a household machine (2). The sprinkler device (1) comprises a closed-head sprinkler (10) comprising an orifice being closed until a predetermined temperature is achieved. A first pipe (12) having a first end (12a) is connected to the sprinkler (10). The first pipe (12) is made of a fire resistant material. A second pipe (14) having a first end (14a) is connected to a second end (12b) of the first pipe (12). A second end (14b) of the second pipe (14) is connected to a water supply (3). The closed-head sprinkler (10) is provided above the household machine (2) for spraying water over the household machine (2) in case the orifice is opened.

Description

SPRINKLER DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sprinkler device for automatic extinction of fires in a household machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of sprinkler devices exist. Sprinkler devices are normally a part of a larger fire detection, fire alarming and fire extinguishing system. These systems are mostly used in larger buildings, such as apartment buildings, public buildings or corporate buildings due to their complexity and costs. These systems are normally not suitable or they are too expensive for private houses. A large contribution to these costs are installation costs, i.e. manual work for installing the pipes, the sprinklers etc in the building. Moreover, this type of work must be performed by a plumber or other authorized personnel.

Consequently, private houses today have fire detectors/ alarms, which outputs a sound signal if smoke or fire is detected. Moreover, private houses have a fire extinguisher or fire hose for manual fire extinction. There are normally no systems which performs automatic fire extinction based on an automatic fire detection in private houses today.

In private houses, there are some rooms where fires occur more often than others. One such room is the room is where the laundry washing machine and drying tumbler are located, typically a separate laundry room or the bath room etc. The laundry washing machine and drying tumbler are household machines where there is a statistically higher risk for fires in private houses. Other such rooms are technical rooms with household machines of type centralized vacuum cleaners, centralized ventilation systems etc.

The object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler device for automatic fire extinction of fires in household machines. The sprinkler device should be simple, have low costs and be easy to set up, without the need for a plumber or other authorized personnel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object above is achieved with a sprinkler device as defined in the independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, where:

Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of detail A of fig. 1.

It is now referred to fig. 1, showing a sprinkler device 1 for automatic extinction of fires in a household machine 2. The term automatic here means that the fire extinction starts when a predetermined condition is met, i.e. there the fire extinction does not need to be actuated by a person pressing on an alarm button or similar action.

In fig. 1 there are two household machines, one laundry washing machine and one laundry tumble dryer provided on top of the washing machine. These household machines are located in a washing room where a water supply 3 for the washing machine is provided.

The sprinkler device 1 comprises a closed-head sprinkler 10. The closed-head sprinkler 10 comprises an orifice which is being closed until a predetermined temperature is achieved. Hence, when the predetermined temperature is achieved, the abovementioned condition is also met. A typical temperature may be between 50 and 150 degrees.

The sprinkler device 1 comprises a first water supply pipe. The first water supply pipe comprises a first pipe 12 and a second pipe 14.

A first end 12a of the first pipe 12 is connected to the sprinkler 10. A second end opposite of the first end 12a is denoted with reference number 12b. The first pipe 12 is made of a fire resistant material, for example a metal, such as copper, stainless steel or other suitable materials, such as CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride). The first pipe 12 is rigid in the first embodiment.

A first end 14a of the second pipe 14 is connected to the second end 12b of the first pipe 12. A second end 14b of the second pipe 14 is connected to a connector device 20. The connector device 20 has a first pipe coupling 20a, a second pipe coupling 20b and a third pipe coupling 20c, where the first pipe coupling 20a is connected to the second end 14b of the second pipe 14. The third coupling 20c is connected to a water supply 3.

The second pipe 14 may be flexible, to ease the connection to the water supply 3. The second pipe may also be made of a fire resistant material, but this is not strictly necessary. In the present embodiment, the second pipe 14 comprises an inner flexible pipe and an outer protective cover of braided metal fibers.

The second end 12b of the first pipe 12 and the first end 14a of the second pipe 14 may comprise a connection interface 16 for releasable connection to each other. In this way, the size of the sprinkler device 1 may be reduced during transportation and storage etc. Alternatively, the pipe 12 and the pipe 14 may be fixed to each other, for example by welding or similar.

The water supply 3 may be a closable pipe coupling of the water supply 3, such as a water tap of a sink. Alternatively, the water supply 3 may be a special-purpose water supply provided for water supply to the washing machine. In the present embodiment, the water supply 3 is a special-purpose water supply for the washing machine, such as a water supply pipe 5 for a washing machine. Hence, when the water supply 3 is open for using the washing machine, also the sprinkler device 1 will be supplied with water. However, when the water supply 3 is closed, no water will be supplied to the sprinkler device either.

The second water supply pipe 5 is connected between the household machine 2 and the second pipe coupling 20b of the connector device 20.

The closed-head sprinkler 10 is provided above the household machines 2 for spraying water over the household machine 2 in case the orifice is opened, i.e. due to an increase of temperature.

In the present embodiment, the first pipe 12 is fastened to the wall on the side of the household machines by means for fastening devices (not shown). Such fastening devices are considered known for a skilled person and will not be described herein in detail. As shown in fig. 1, the sprinkler 10 is provided higher up on the wall than the top of the upper household machine, in order to provide water to all sides of the household machines. Alternatively, the first pipe 12 may be fastened to the wall behind the household machines. In yet another alternative, the first pipe 12 may comprise a bend, for example a 90° bend, for providing the sprinkler 10 in a distance from the wall.

It is now referred to fig. 2. Here the connector device 20 is illustrated. In case a water consuming household machine 2, for example a washing machine, is used when a fire occurs, all available water should be directed to the closed-head sprinkler 10 and no water should be directed to the household machine. Hence, the connector device 20 of the present invention is a prioritizing valve for prioritizing water supply to the closed-head sprinkler (10) in case the orifice is opened. Such prioritizing valves are known for a skilled person. According to the invention it is achieved a sprinkler device which represents a relatively simple and cost efficient solution for fire extinction. Moreover, the sprinkler device can be installed in private houses and in other buildings without the need for a plumber or other authorized personnel.

Claims

1. Sprinkler device (1) for automatic extinction of fires in a household machine (2), the sprinkler device (1) comprising:

a closed-head sprinkler (10) comprising an orifice being closed until a predetermined temperature is achieved;

a connector device (20) having a first pipe coupling (20a), a second pipe coupling (20b) and a third pipe coupling (20c);

a first water supply pipe (12, 14) connected between the closed-head sprinkler (10) and the first pipe coupling (20a);

- a second water supply pipe (5) connected between the household machine (2) and the second pipe coupling (20b);

where the third pipe coupling (20c) is connected to a water supply (3);

where the closed-head sprinkler (10) is provided above the household machine (2) for spraying water over the household machine (2) in case the orifice is opened; and where the connector device (20) is a prioritizing valve for prioritizing water supply to the closed-head sprinkler (10) in case the orifice is opened.

2. Sprinkler device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first water supply pipe comprises:

a first pipe (12), where a first end (12a) is connected to the sprinkler (10) and where the first pipe (12) is made of a fire resistant material;

a second pipe (14), where a first end (14a) of the second pipe (14) is connected to a second end (12b) of the first pipe (12) and a second end (14b) of the second pipe (14) is connected to the first pipe coupling (20a).

3. Sprinkler device according to claim 2; where the second pipe (14) is flexible.

4. Sprinkler device according to claim 2, where the first pipe (12) is fixed to a wall near the household machine (2).