CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims the priority of, and expressly incorporates by reference herein the entire disclosure of, United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/619,346, filed January 19, 2018.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to water-based fire protection systems and, more particularly, to venting gas from such systems.

BACKGROUND

[0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0004] Water-based fire sprinkler systems include a pipe network that may be filled with an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen gas, etc.) to displace oxygen molecules contained within the pipe network and/or limit the amount of oxygen that is introduced into the pipe network. This may reduce corrosion within the fire sprinkler systems if, for example, the oxygen molecules are displaced at a rate that exceeds the kinetics of the oxygen corrosion reaction. The oxygen molecules may be introduced into the system from exposing the pipe network to atmosphere, using a compressor to fill (e.g., pressurize) the pipe network, etc. Water-based fire sprinkler systems utilizing these systems and methods for minimizing corrosion are described generally in U.S. Patent No. 9,144,700, issued September 29, 2015, and U.S. Patent No. 9,186,533, issued November 17, 2015, the disclosures of each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety

[0005] These fire protection systems sometimes include vents to allow pressurized gas, more particularly, the inert gas, which carries oxygen with it, to exit the pipe network of the fire protection system . However, in dr ' pipe and preaction systems, it is critical that this flow of gas outside of the system does not result in a drop in pressure that will allow the valve that controls the introduction of water into the pipe network to actuate. The prior art systems utilize fixed orifice or manually adjusted valves. These valves are commonly designed based on system volume Fixed orifice valves are unable to adjust to changing conditions within the pipe network or the surrounding atmosphere that may have an impact on the pressure within the pipe network. While manually adjustable valves can be adapted to such changing conditions, the effectiveness of such valves is dependent on the attention of maintenance personnel, which may not be able to occur in a timely manner.

SUMMARY

[0006] Tliis section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a venting assembly for coupling to a pipe network of a water-based fire sprinkler system that includes a control circuit configured to determine a target flow rate of gas to be released from the water- based fire sprinkler system and generate a control signal as a function of the target flow rate of gas; an adjustable valve in fluid communication with the pipe network and configured to receive the control signal from the control circuit and control a current flow' rate of gas exiting the pipe network; and wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit the control signal to the adjustable valve and the adjustable valve is further configured to adjust the current flow rate of gas in response to the control signal.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a water-based fire sprinkler system that includes a pipe network; at least one sprinkler in fluid communication with the pipe network; a gas source in fluid communication with the pipe network, the gas source configured to supply a pressurized gas to the pipe network; a control circuit configured to determine a target flow rate of gas to be released from the water-based fire sprinkler system and generate a control signal as a function of the target flow rate of gas; an adjustable valve in fluid communication with the pipe network and configured to receive the control signal from the control circuit and control a current flow rate of gas exiting the pipe network; and wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit the control signal to the adjustable valve and the adjustable valve is further configured to adjust the current flow rate of gas in response to the control signal.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of venting gas from a water-based fire sprinkler system that includes the steps of coupling a venting assembly to a pipe network of the water-based fire sprinkler system, the venting assembly including a control circuit configured to determine a target flow^ rate of gas to be released from the water-based fire sprinkler system and generate a control signal as a function of the target flow rate of gas; an adjustable valve in fluid communication with the pipe network, the adjustable valve further configured to receive the control signal from the control circuit and control a current flow' rate of gas exiting the pipe network; and wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit the control signal to the adjustable valve and the adjustable valve is further configured to adjust the current flow rate of gas in response to the control signal; determining the target flow rate of gas; transmitting the control signal to the adjustable valve; and adjusting the current flow rate of gas when the flow rate of gas does not substantially equal the target flow rate

[0010] According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of venting gas from a water-based fire sprinkler system that includes the steps of coupling a venting assembly to a pipe network of the water-based fire sprinkler system, the venting assembly having an adjustable valve in fluid communication with the pipe network and configured to proportionally release gas from the pipe network at a current gas flow rate; a control circuit configured to determine a target flow rate of gas to be released from the water- based fire sprinkler system and control operation of the adjustable valve; determining the target flow rate of gas; and proportionally adjusting the current gas flow rate when the flow rate of gas being released does not substantially equal the target flow' rate.

[0011] Further aspects and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that various aspects and features of this disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one or more other aspects or features. It should also be understood that the description and specific examples herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not ail possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a venting assembly for coupling to a water-based fire sprinkler system according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0014] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an adjustable valve for use in a venting assembly for coupling to a water-based fire sprinkler system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure in some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0017] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising,"“including/’ and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0018] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These tenns may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as“first,”“second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from tire teachings of the example embodiments.

[0019] Spatially relative terms, such as“inner,”“outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another elements) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative tenns may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below " can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0020] A venting assembly for coupling to a water-based fire sprinkler system according to one example embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 and indicated generally by reference number 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the venting assembly 100 includes an adjustable valve 102 and a control circuit 104 coupled to the adjustable valve 102. The control circuit 104 is configured to determine a target flow rate of gas to be released from the water-based fire sprinkler system and control the adjustable valve 102 to release gas at the target flow rate.

[0021] For example, water-based fire sprinkler systems include a pipe network that may be filled with an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen gas, etc.) to displace oxygen molecules contained within the pipe network and/or limit the amount of oxygen that is introduced into the pipe network. This may reduce corrosion within die fire sprinkler systems if, for example, the oxygen molecules are displaced at a rate that exceeds the kinetics of the oxygen corrosion reaction . The oxygen molecules may be introduced into the system from exposing the pipe network to atmosphere, using a compressor to fill (e.g., pressurize) the pipe network, etc. Water-based fire sprinkler systems utilizing these systems and methods for minimizing corrosion are described generally in U.S. Patent No. 9,144,700, issued September 29, 2015, and U.S. Patent No. 9,186,533, issued November 17, 2015, the disclosures of each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0022] The venting assembly may be used to vent gas (including the oxygen molecules) from the pipe network. In doing so, the venting assembly is designed not to release gas (including the oxygen molecules) from the pipe network at a rate that would cause the system to actuate. In other words, the venting assembly is designed to keep the pressure within the pipe network above a supervisory pressure that may otherwise actuate the system causing water to flow through the pipe network and to one or more sprinklers coupled to the pipe network. Tims, by employing the venting assemblies disclosed herein, a target flow' rate of gas to be released from a particular water-based fire sprinkler system may be determined, and a valve may be adjusted to release gas at the target flow' rate to ensure the system does not inadvertently actuate. [0023] The adjustable valves disclosed herein (e.g., the adjustable valve 102) may include any suitable valve capable of adjusting an orifice (e.g., opening) to alter a current flow rate of gas passing through the valve. For example, the adjustable valve may include an electronically controlled (e.g., automated) valve such as a proportional valve (e.g., a proportional solenoid valve). For instance, a proportional valve may be capable of converting a control signal from the control circuit 104 into a proportional output to selectively vary the position, force, etc. of a valve component (e.g., a spring, a diaphragm, etc.). As a result, the size of the valve opening may be increased or decreased to a variety of positions, including fully open, fully closed, or at any intervening position between those two, to alter a flow rate of gas passing through the valve. The valve 102 may include an iris opening, gate opening or similarly adjustable orifice that may be adjusted in size by electronic, mechanical, or electro mechanical action, for example, proportional solenoid valves, spring-loaded or mechanically actuated piston, globe, or ball valves, butterfly valves, needle valves, or screw-type adjusting stem valves. As such, the adjustable valve 102 may include a valve body 106, orifice 108, orifice restriction structure 1 10, and an actuator 1 12 to motivate the orifice to the desired size in accordance with the usual operation of the device as shown schematically in Fig. 2. The bold arrows in Fig. 2 indicate the direction of gas flow through tire valve 102.

[0024] The control circuit 104 may determine the target flow rate of gas to be released from a particular water-based fire sprinkler system in various manners. In some embodiments, the water-based fire sprinkler system may include one or more optional sensors (shown as Sensor A and Sensor B in Fig. 1) for providing sensed parameters to the control circuit 104 by generating and transmitting a signal from the sensor to the control circuit 104. In such examples, the control circuit 104 may be coupled to sense at least one parameter from the one or more optional sensors. The control circuit 104 may then determine the target flow rate of gas for the water-based fire sprinkler system based on one or more of the sensed parameters. As such, the target flow rate of gas of a particular system may be determined based on specific characteristics of that system including, for example, volume, operating pressure, initial gas purity rate, target gas purity, etc. For example, the water-based fire sprinkler system may include one or more of a gas flow sensor (e.g., electronic flow meter, etc.), a pressure sensor (e.g., pressure transducer, etc.), a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermocouple), etc. Further, to ensure the pressure within the pipe network 106 does not fall below a supervisory pressure, which in some systems could result in actuation of a differential pressure valve that controls the flow of water into the pipe network, the control circuit 104 may adjust the target flow of gas in part to offset a leak rate of the water-based fire protection system. The determination of the target flow rate of gas based on one or more of these parameters may result in the control circuit 104 sending a control signal to the adjustable valve 102. The control circuit may in other instances coordinate the control signal sent to the adjustable valve 102 with a second control signal to a gas source (not shown) to provide further control of the flow rate in the system.

[0025] Additionally and/or alternatively, the control circuit 104 may optionally include one or more user interfaces for receiving user inputs to determine the target flow rate of gas. In such examples, the control circuit 104 may receive manually provided parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature, gas flow ⁷ rate, etc.), as shown in Fig. 1. The user inputs may be provided from manual entry of data at any suitable data entry device, for example, a key pad or touch screen.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the control circuit 104 outputs one or more control signals to the adjustable valve 102 based on, for example, the sensed parameters, the received user inputs, etc. The control signal(s) are used by the adjustable valve 102 to adjust (and/or readjust) its valve opening to alter a flow rate of gas passing through the valve, as explained above. [0027] In some examples, the control circuit 104 may determine the actual flow rate of gas released from the system. This may be done by receiving sensed parameters) from one or more sensors (including the sensors disclosed herein), user input, etc. If tins flow rate of gas does not substantially equal the target flow rate, the control circuit 104 may control the adjustable valve to change the flow rate of gas released from the dry pipe fire system.

[0028] The control circuits disclosed herein (e.g., the control circuit 104) may include any suitable control circuit including, for example, a programmable controller. For example, the control circuit may include a digital controller programmed to implement one of more algorithms for determining (e.g. calculating) a target flow rate of gas to be released from a particular water-based fire sprinkler system, controlling an adjustable valve to release gas at the target flow rate, etc.

[0029] The water-based fire sprinkler systems disclosed herein may also include various optional components. For example, the systems may include one or more filters, pressure gauges, gas sampling ports, valves (e.g., isolation ball valves, drain valves, etc.), strainers (e.g ,“Y” strainers having a perforated mesh screen such as a wire mesh screen), etc.

[0030] Additionally, the venting assemblies may be employed in various water-based fire sprinkler systems including, for example, dry' pipe fire protection systems, dry' pipe preaction fire protection systems, etc.

[0031] By employing any one or more of venting assemblies disclosed herein, a gas flow rate may be tailored to specific system characteristics such as volume, pressure, system leak rate, a valve model, trim work, etc. to maximize the flow rate without activating a dry or preaction valve in the system. As a result, the time required to inert the system (e.g., the inerting time) may' be minimized. Additionally, the venting assemblies may be employed in multiple systems each having different characteristics. Further, by employing the venting assemblies, determination, installation, etc. of a particular fixed vent orifice sized based on system characteristics (e.g., volume) may be avoided, manual calibration of an adjustable vent orifice based on system characteristics (e.g., volume) may be avoided, etc.

[0032] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.