"FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fire sprinkler system.

Background to the Invention

Fire sprinkler systems have long been installed in most commercial and industrial buildings as an important element of fire protection systems, together with smoke and heat detectors, fire alarms, fire escapes, fire hydrants and fire extinguishers. In fact, in many jurisdictions, commercial and industrial buildings are required by law to have fire sprinkler systems installed.

Many domestic dwellings are now also fitted with smoke and heat detectors and fire alarms. However few, if any, domestic dwellings are fitted with fire sprinkler systems. There are various reasons for this, cost being only one of the factors that has militated against their more widespread use.

In order for a sprinkler system to operate effectively, a minimum water pressure is required to be supplied to the fire sprinkler system. The minimum water pressure required is dependent on the physical characteristics of the system installed. As mains water pressure can vary from location to location, having a fire sprinkler that can operate with relatively low mains water pressure allows dwellings in such areas the possibility of utilising domestic fire sprinkler systems.

The present invention was developed with a view to providing a fire sprinkler system that can operate effectively in areas with relatively low mains pressure available.

References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fire sprinkler system for a domestic dwelling, the system comprising:

a water supply line connected to a water authority water meter located remote from the dwelling;

a connector having an inlet in connection with the water supply line and a first outlet and a second outlet;

a conduit arranged in a loop, the loop conduit running from the first outlet of the connector to the second outlet, at least a portion of the loop running adjacent a ceiling of the dwelling; and

a plurality of sprinklers to be mounted in the ceiling in connection with the loop;

wherein the connector is located remote from the dwelling between the dwelling and the water authority meter.

Preferably the portion of the loop conduit running from the first outlet of the connector to the dwelling runs parallel to the portion of the loop conduit running from the second outlet of the connector to the housing. Preferably the connector comprises a Y-piece.

Preferably the fire sprinkler system is provided with a valve housing having a first shut off valve in connection with the portion of the loop conduit running from the first outlet of the connector and a second shut off valve in connection with the portion of the loop conduit running from the second outlet of the connector to the housing. Typically, the valve housing is mounted on a side wall of the dwelling and the connector is therefore located between the valve housing and the water authority meter. Preferably the connector is located adjacent the water authority meter.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of a fire sprinkler system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fire sprinkler system of a known configuration; and

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a fire sprinkler system in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A known configuration of a fire sprinkler system is illustrated in Figure 1. The fire sprinkler system includes a water supply line 12 in connection with a water authority meter 14. The water authority meter 14 is connected to a mains supply 16 for supplying water to a dwelling 18. The water supply line 12 supplies water to the fire sprinkler system 10. Water for domestic use is supplied through a domestic supply line 13 connected also to the water authority meter 14 in a known manner.

- A -

The water authority meter 14 is located remote from the dwelling 18. The water supply line 12 runs from the water authority meter 14 to a valve housing 20 located on the dwelling 18. The valve housing 20 includes a first shut off valve 22 for controlling water flow to the fire sprinkler system 10. Typically, the valve housing 20 is mounted on a side wall of the dwelling 18. The housing 20 may also include a pressure meter 24 for displaying the pressure of the water in the fire sprinkler system.

The water supply line 12 runs out of the housing 20 into a roof space of the dwelling 18 where it connects to an inlet 26 of a connector 28. The connector includes the inlet 26, a first outlet 30 and a second outlet 32. A conduit 34 is provided in a loop configuration in the roof space of the dwelling 18. The loop conduit 34 runs around the roof space from the first outlet 30 of the connector

28 to the second outlet 32 of the connector 28. Preferably the connector 28 comprises a Y-piece.

The fire sprinkler system 10 includes a plurality of sprinklers 36 in connection with the loop conduit 34. The sprinklers 36 are mounted to the ceiling of the dwelling 18. Should a fire be detected, the sprinklers 36 are activated (in a usual manner) and water flows from the water supply line 12 to the loop conduit 34 and out of the sprinklers 36 to extinguish the fire.

The fire sprinkler system 10 includes also a flush pipe 38 running from the loop conduit 34 back through the valve housing 20 to an outlet. A flush valve 40 is provided in the valve housing 20 in connection with the flush pipe 38. Opening of the flush valve 38 allows water to flow through the loop conduit 34 for flushing the system.

A fire sprinkler system 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2, where like reference numerals are used to denote like parts.

The fire sprinkler system 10 of the present invention comprises an arrangement in which the connector 28 is located remote from the dwelling 18 between the dwelling 18 and the water authority meter 14. That is, the connector 28 is located between the valve housing 20 and the water authority meter 14 rather than in the roof space after the valve housing 20. The positioning of the connector 28 in this way allows for easier maintenance and repair of the connector and its associated parts since the connector can be easily accessed outside the dwelling rather than having to enter the roof space of the dwelling. Furthermore, if the connector should burst, the overflow water will pass into the ground outside the dwelling rather than into the roof space causing potential damage in the dwelling.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the first outlet 30 of the connector 28 runs preferably parallel to the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the second outlet 32 of the connector 28 to the valve housing 20. This allows for the easier installation of the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the first outlet 30 and the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the second outlet 32 since in the case when these portions are installed underground both of the portions can be laid in a single trench.

The valve housing 20 is provided with a first shut off valve 22 in the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the second outlet 32 and a second shut off valve 23 in the portion of the loop conduit 34 running from the second outlet 32.

It is known that in water systems where a relatively low pressure is supplied, an option for increasing water flow is to provide a larger diameter pipe. Therefore, if a system of the type shown in Figure 1 were to be provided in a location where the mains pressure were relatively low, one method of improving performance of the fire sprinkler system to provide adequate water flow to the sprinklers would be to increase the diameter of the water supply line 12 running from the water authority meter 14 to the dwelling 18.

It is suggested that rather than adopting the approach of increasing the diameter of the water supply line 12, modifying the configuration to one in which the loop conduit 34 extends to a location remote from the dwelling 18 provides an improved performance. For example, the use of such a loop configuration pipe increases the performance at low pressure by reducing the fhctional losses in the pipe relative to that of a single incoming pipe, such as that shown in Figure 1. The installation of a fire sprinkler system 10 as shown in the embodiment in Figure 2 is thereby possible in locations in which mains pressure is relatively low.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.