Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to application number (docket AAFP-Po2),
filed 27 June 20o6 and entitled "Fire Sprinkler", which is incorporated in its
entirety
by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to the fire suppression and
extinguishment field, and more specifically to a new and improved sprinkler
system
and method of installation in the fire suppression and extinguishment field.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Fire sprinkler systems have been used in the United States to protect
warehouses and factories for over one hundred years. Fire sprinkler systems
are
positioned near the ceiling of a room where hot "ceiling jets" spread radially
outward
from a fire plume. When the temperature at an individual sprinkler reaches a
pre-
determined value, the thermally responsive element in the sprinlder activates
and
permits the flow of water as a water jet through an orifice toward a
deflector. The
metal deflector redirects the water jet into thin streams or "ligaments" that
break up
into droplets due to surface tension. The water droplets serve three purposes:
(i)
delivering water to the burning material and reducing the combustion rate, (2)
-wetting the surrounding material and reducing the flame spread rate, and (3)
cooling
the surrounding air through evaporation and displacing air with inert water
vapor.
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[0004] A typical sprinlder has a coverage area of 200 ft2 (18.5 m2), which is
typically measured in a circular pattern with a radius of 8 feet (2.5 m) or in
a square
pattern with equal sides of 14 feet (4.25 m). A typical metal building
includes at least
three beams, such as rafters, extending along the width of a space and
separated
from each other by a distance of 25-30 feet (7.5m to gm). As shown in FIGURES
3
and 4, a conventional fire sprinlder system for a typical metal building
includes four
supply lines, each with four typical sprinklers.
[0005] From a labor and materials viewpoint, the installation of every
individual supply line is an additional cost. An additional supply line
requires
additional labor, as the installers of the fire sprinlder system must fasten
each supply
line to a structural member near the ceiling, which typically requires the use
of a
ladder or a platform. An additional supply line also requires additional
metal, which
is the typical material for the supply lines. Thus, there is a need in the
fire
suppression and extinguishment field to create an improved sprinkler system
and
method of installation that reduces the labor and/or materials costs. This
invention
provides such improved sprinkler system and method of installation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIGURES 1 and 2 are perspective and overhead views, respectively, of a
fire sprinlder system with two supply lines, each with eight new sprinklers,
according
to the preferred embodiments.
[0007] FIGURES 3 and 4 are perspective and overhead views, respectively, of a
conventional fire sprinlder system with four supply lines, each with four
typical
spriniders, according to the teachings of the prior art.
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[0008] FIGURE 5 is a detailed view of the coverage area of the sprinkler of
the
preferred embodiment.
[0009] FIGURE 6 is a side view of the fire sprinlding system according to a
variation of the preferred embodiment in a metal building with purlins.
[0010] FIGURE 7 is a detailed view of a portion of FIGURE 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The following description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention is not intended to limit the invention to these preferred
embodiments, but
rather to enable any person skilled in the art of fire suppression and
extinguishment
to make and use this invention.
[0012] As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the fire sprinlder system lo of the
preferred embodiments includes a supply line 12 and a series of sprinklers 14
connected to the supply line 12. The fire sprinkler system lo of the preferred
embodiments is preferably installed in a space having a width Wi of at least
20 feet
(6m) and a length Li of at least 20 feet (6m), and is more preferably
installed in a
space having a width of at least 20 feet (6m) and a length of approximately 25-
30 feet
(7.5m to gm). The space is preferably defined by two beams 16 extending along
the
width of the space and separated by a distance equal to the length of the
space. The
beams 16 function to support the weight of the roof (shown in FIGURE 5). The
beams 16 are preferably steel I-shaped rafters 16, but the beams 16 may be any
suitable structural member to transfer the weight of the roof, may be made
from any
suitable material, and may be shaped in any suitable manner. The height of the
space
is preferably 20 to 40 feet (6 to 12m), but may alternatively be any suitable
height. In
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a variation of the preferred embodiment, the space may include a series of
purlins :18
extending the length of the space and separated by a distance of approximately
5-6
feet (1-2m). The purlins 18, which span lengthwise between the rafters 16 and
are
fixed onto the rafters 16, function to support the weight of the roofing
sheets (not
shown) of the roof. The purlins 18 are preferably steel Z-shaped purlins 18,
but the
purlins 18 may be any suitable structural member to support the roofing sheets
of the
roof, may be made from any suitable material, and may be shaped in any
suitable
manner. Preferably, the fire sprinlder system io is installed in a metal
building (such
as a prefabricated metal building), but the fire sprinkler system io may
alternatively
be installed in any suitable shelter.
[0013] The supply line 12 of the preferred embodiments functions to supply a
fire suppressing or extinguishing substance to the sprinlders 14. The supply
line 12
preferably supplies water to the sprinlclers 14, but may alternatively supply
any
suitable substance that suppresses or extinguishes fires. The supply line 12
preferably
extends along the width Wi of the space, and is preferably located between the
beams i6. More preferably, the supply line 12 generally bisects the distance
between
the beams 16.
[0094] As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, the series of sprinklers 14 of the
preferred embodiments function to disperse the fire suppressing or
extinguishing
substance in a coverage area having a length L2 and a width W2. Preferably,
the
width W2 of each coverage area is less than the length L2 of each coverage
area. In a
first variation, the width W2 of each coverage area is less than 66% of the
length L2
of each coverage area. In a second variation, the width W2 of each coverage
area is
less than 33% of the length L2 of each coverage area. In a third variation,
the length
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L2 of each coverage area is at least 20 feet (6m) and the width W2 of each
coverage
area is approximately 5-6 feet (1-2m). In a fourth variation, the length L2 of
each
coverage area is approximately equal to the distance between the rafters 16 of
the
space, and the width W2 of each coverage area is approximately equal to the
distance
between the purlins 18. In alternative variations, the length L2 and the width
W2 of
each coverage area may be any suitable dimension.
[0015] Each sprinkler 14 of the preferred embodiments is connected to the
supply line 12 and located along the supply line 12 such that the coverage
areas of the
sprinklers 14 overlap at least a significant portion of the space. Each
sprinkler 14 is
preferably oriented such that the length L2 of its coverage area extends in
opposite
directions toward the beams 16 and the width W2 of each coverage area extends
to
the two closest purlins 18. Locating the supply line 12 between the rafters 16
and
orienting the sprinklers 14 towards the rafters 16 allows the fire sprinkler
system 1o
to be installed in a typically metal building with one-half of the supply
lines of a
conventional fire sprinkler system, which greatly reduces the labor and
materials for
the fire sprinkler system io. Although only one version is shown, the
sprinkler 14
may be an upright-type sprinlder (above the supply line), a pendant-type
sprinkler
(below the supply line), or may alternatively be two horizontal-type
sprinklers
connected back-to-back.
[0016] In a variation of the preferred embodiments, as shown in FIGURES 6
and 7, each sprinkler 14 is located along the supply line 12 between two
purlins 18
such that each sprinlder 14 generally bisects the distance between either the
two
closest purlins 18 or the closest purlin 18 and a wall2o or other structural
member.
When the sprinlder 14 is located between two rafters 16 and between two
purlins 18,
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it is generally centered within a volume 24 defined by a vertical extension of
the
rafters 16 on two sides, the purlins 18 on two sides, a first horizontal
extension of the
top of the purlins 18 (i.e., the roof 22) on one side, and finally a second
horizontal
extension of the bottom of the purlins 18. The hot "ceiling jets" that spread
radially
outward from a fire plume generally fills this volume 24. By centering the
sprinlder
14 in this volume, the fire sprinlder system 1o may be able to respond faster
to the
fire.
[0017] As a person slalled in the art of fire suppression and extinguishment
will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and
claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of
the
invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the
following
claims.
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