Fire extinguishing sprinkling system
United States Patent [1 1 Scruggs I Apr. 8, 1975 1 FIRE EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLING SYSTEM [76 Inventor: Andrew Scruggs, 4859 Alexander [52] US. Cl 169/18; 251/294 [51] Int. Cl. A62c 37/20 [58] Field of Search 169/5, 16, 17, 18, 37; 251/294 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 144,039 10/1873 Suttcr 169/18 224.431 2/1880 Hill 169/18 792,794 6/1905 Rogers 169/16 983,606 2/1911 Corneliussen i 169/16 1.877.088 9/1932 Tyden 169/16 X Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant E.\&#39;uminerMichael Mar [57] ABSTRACT An automatic fire extinguishing sprinkling system of the type permanently installed in commercial establishments and the like and which is adapted for automatic operation upon the sensing of a fire by automatic sensing devices and which includes proportionalizing valves adapted for manual operation of selected portions of the system by an individual detecting the tire previously to the activation of the automatic devices and thus manually activating the re quired portion of the sprinkling system to extinguish the limited fire without having to activate the entire sprinkling system which would result in excessive water damage to those areas otherwise not affected by the fire, the system including a pair of concentrically disposed shafts each having an operating handle at one end with the opposite ends connected by sprocket chains to valves of the sprinkling system such that operation of one shaft will effect activation of the entire sprinkling system whereas operation of the other shaft will effect activation of only a proportionalized section of the sprinkling system where the fire has been detectcd.  
 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEMR mm minimum! 5 are:  
  1 FIRE EXTINGUISHING SPRINKLING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to fire extinguishing sprinkling systems of the type permanently installed in commercial establishments and the like, and more particularly to a novel and improved sprinkling system permitting manual activation of selected portions thereof by an individual detecting a fire previously to the fire activating an automatic detector thus permitting the fire to be extinguished with minimum water damage to the immediate surroundings not affected by the fire.  
 2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known in the prior art to provide fire extin guishing sprinkling systems which are automatic in operation and of the type having separate valves spaced at intervals along the ceiling of an establishment with each valve operable to spray water outwardly therefrom upon a fire resulting of sufficient heat and intensity to melt a sealing block in the spray head thus permitting water to be sprayed outwardly therefrom in a manner to extinguish the fire. However, such devices require that the fire reach a significant heat intensity to melt the block, so that before the fire is detected and extinguished the same may have spread to other areas beyond the spray pattern of the spray head such that the devices are not fully positive in action as to extinguishment of the fire. Further, due to the sealing block in the spray head it is not operable manually should an individual detect a tire and wish to activate the sprinkling system, such that the individual must rely on hand operated extinguishing equipment in hopes to retain and extinguish the fire.  
  In view of such difficulties of spray heads with heat melting sealing blocks therein, systems were developed where spray heads were disposed in the same manner as the prior system except that the flow of water therethrough is controlled by a central valve which is electrically operated and connected to fire sensing devices disposed throughout the establishment such that should a fire be detected by such sensing device the same opens the valve and thus supplies water to all of the spray heads throughout theestablishment to extinguish the blaze. However, not only does this extinguish the fire but it also provides a high level of water damage to all surrounding areas since the system was not only activated in the area of the fire, but also in those areas completely separate from the fire. Further, a main disadvantage of this system is that should the fire have been detected by an individual that the only way the individual could extinguish the fire is by activating the complete system and thus again causing the same amount of water damage.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available fire extinguishing sprinkling systems as installed in a commercial establishment and the like, and provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a proportioning valve assembly which permits an individual seeing a fire to manually turn on only that portion of the sprinkling system for the particular section where the fire is at rather than having to wait for the automatic controls of the sprinkling system to operate the main valve, this serving to rapidly extinguish the fire and also substantially limit the property damage resulting from excessive water.  
  A further provision of the present invention is that the individual may manually operate the particular section of the sprinkling system pertaining to where the fire is detected, and if the fire is of a larger area than the individual can, at the same location, activate the complete fire extinguishing system to assure complete extinguishing of thefire, the individual not having to run about the establishment to different locations for activating different sections of the system but being able to do that which is required from a single location.  
  It is a feature of the present invention to provide a fire extinguishing sprinkling system for use in stores, warehouses, factories and the like and which is proportionalized to permit manual operation of selected portions thereof without causing excessive water damage to surrounding merchandise and which may be readily manually activated at the will of an individual if the use thereof appears justifiable in place of smaller hand held fire extinguishers and the like.  
  A further feature of the present invention provides a fire extinguishing sprinkling system wherein portions thereof may be manually operated to extinguish a fire while other portions thereof remain inoperative thus limiting water damage to the establishment.  
  The provision of a fire extinguishing sprinkling system such as briefly outlined above. and possessing the stated features and advantages, constitutes the principal features and advantages of the present invention. The provision of a proportionalized fire extinguishing sprinkling system which may be readily manufactured at substantially the same cost as presently available fire extinguishing systems not having the same features and advantages; one which is possessed of few parts and therefore is assured of positive operation when emergency use thereof is required; one which is of a rugged and durable construction; one which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation; one which may, in its entirety, by manufactured and installed as part of the original fire extinguishing equipment of a sprinkling system or which may be readily attached thereto at a later date as an accessory item for updating and modernizing the system by proportionalizing and sectionalizing the same; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are among the further desirable features and advantages which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.  
  Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:  
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical commercial establishment and having sections thereof broken away to illustrate a portion of a fire extinguishing system disposed along the ceiling thereof and constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the operating shafts and wheels and the valves associated therewith typifying the system of the present invention;  
  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 2.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a fire extinguishing sprinkling system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and which is shown as deployed in a commercial establishment having a plurality of rooms 11, 12 and 13 therein divided by walls 14 and 15 with appropriate passageways and doorways extending through the walls to interconnect the various rooms.  
  For purposes of illustration the system of the present invention is shown proportionalized only for room 13 with it being understood that similar systems in accord with the invention are intended to be deployed with rooms 11 and 12 in the same manner as will be described for the room 13.  
  A main sprinkling pipe 21 having a plurality of spray heads 22 extends the length of the building 10 over all of the rooms 11-13 and is connected to a water supply pipe 23 which, in turn, is connected to a main water supply pipe 24. A rotary type valve of an iris construction is interposed in pipe 21 and is rotatable about its axis between a position opening the pipe to discharge water from the spray heads 22, and a position closing the pipe, the valve 25 being manually operable by a sprocket wheel 26 formed therewith and about which is trained a sprocket chain 27 depending downwardly therefrom to engage a substantially aligned sprocket wheel 28 at one end of a hollow cylindrical shaft 29 which is journaled for rotation in bearing 30 mounted in wall 31 and projects therethrough to terminate at a fly-wheel 32 such that rotation of the fly-wheel about its axis will effect the operation of the valve 25. It is to be understood that for automatic operation of the valve 25 that the same may have an electric motor (not shown) associated with the sprocket chain 27 and which is electrically connected to fire detecting sensing devices spaced throughout the building 10 such that should fire be detected then such sensing devices will energize the motor in a manner to open the valve 25 and spray water throughout the building to extinguish the fire.  
  Disposed along the ceiling of building 10 is a tube 31 having a plurality of spray heads 32 disposed in the region of room 13 with the tube being connected by a water supply pipe 33 to the main water supply source 24. An iris type control valve 35 is mounted in tube 31 and is adapted for rotation about its axis in a manner to open and close the tube for passage of water therethrough to permit such water to spray from spary heads 32 into room 13. The operation of valve 35 is effected by a toothed sprocket wheel 36 about which is trained a sprocket chain 37 which extends downwardly therefrom to be trained about a substantially aligned sprocket wheel 38 mounted on a shaft 39 which extends concentrically through cylindrical shaft 29 and a support plate 40 adjacent fly-wheel 32 to terminate in an operating fly-wheel 42. The opposite end of shaft 39 is journaled for rotation in bearing 44 supported by brace 45 mounted to the floor 46 of the building 10.  
  It is to be understood that similar shafts 29 and rods 39 may be provided in conjunction with additional tubes to separately protect rooms 12 and 11, or alternatively, that such operating shafts for the additional rooms 11 and 12 may be disposed concentric with the shaft 29 such that a total of four fly-wheels would project from wall 31 in that there would be a main flywheel for turning on the complete system and three separately operable fly-wheels each adapted to operate an associated valve for operating the proportioned fire spray extinguishing system for that particular room only.  
  In operation an individual manually operates flywheel 42 when the individual has detected a fire in room 13 thus activating spray heads 32 in a manner to extinguish the fire rather than waiting for the automatic fire detectors to detect the fire and open main valve 25 which would energize all of the spray heads causing excessive water damage in rooms 11 and 12 even though the fire may be completely contained in room 13. On the other hand, should the individual detect the fire as being widespread or as being in many different locations, then the individual may readily rotate fly-wheel 32 in a manner to open main valve 25 and activate spray heads 22 in a manner to spray the entire building to extinguish the fire. In this way the extinguishing system while being automatic in operation should no individuals be present is also manually operated in a selective manner by an individual such that human judgment comes into play in that if the fire is severe enough to warrant the use of the sprinkling system then the individual can activate the sprinkling system in a proportional manner to spray just the immediate area affected by the fire, and should the fire be larger or continue to spread then the individual can activate the main sprinkling system, all this taking place hopefully earlier than the fire has been detected by the automatic fire detecting sensors such that the individual is in complete control of the extinguishing of the fire in a manner minimizing water damage to the building and merchandise contained therein, and also effecting the extinguishing of the fire at an earlier stage than would be accomplished if the fire were left to blaze until after it reached a sufficient heat intensity to activate one of the automatic fire detecting sensors which would then energize the complete fire extinguishing system for the building.  
  A further feature of the present invention and a distinct advantage thereof is that by having the fly-wheels disposed concentric with each other at a single operating location that an individual need only turn one of the fly-wheels to activate the proportioned fire extinguishing system and then, from the same location, may also activate the main fire extinguishing system if it appears that the same is required to extinguish the fire.  
  It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.  
 Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A fire extinguishing sprinkling system comprising a main water line having a plurality of spray heads associated therewith and adapted to protect a complete area of a building and the like, a tube having a plurality of spray heads associated therewith and adapted to protect a proportionalized portion of the building as protected by said first mentioned pipe, a source of water connected by suitable pipe lines to said first mentioned pipe and said tubing, a valve connected to said pipe and operable between an on and an off position to control the flow of water through said pipe to said spray heads,  
 a valve associated with said tubing and operable between an on and an off position in a manner to control the flow of water to said spray heads connected thereto, a first operating means spaced remotely from said first valve and adapted to operate the same, a second operating means spaced remotely from said second valve and adapted to operate the same, and said first and said second means disposed at the same location whereby an individual may selectively manually operate the main pipe, the proportion tube, or both the main pipe and the proportion tube for activation of the associated spray heads for extinguishing a fire in the building; said first and second valves are substantially identical in construction with each valve including a toothed sprocket wheel operatively connected thereto and adpated to effect the operation of the associated valve upon rotation of said sprocket wheel about its axis, said first operating means comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical shaft having a bore extending completely therethrough, one end of said shaft having a sprocket wheel mounted thereon for rotation therewith, said shaft sprocket wheel lying substantially in the same plane as said pipe sprocket wheel, the opposite end of said cylindrical shaft being rotatably supported in a suitable mounting bracket and projecting therethrough and terminating in a fly-wheel of an enlarged diameter relative to said shaft, and an endless sprocket chain trained about said pipe sprocket and said shaft sprocket whereby rotation of said shaft about its axis by said fly-wheel will effect the simultaneous rotation and operation of said pipe valve means.  
  2. The fire extinguishing sprinkling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second operating means comprises an elongated cylindrical rod like shaft extending concentrically through the bore of said cylindrical shaft and projecting outwardly from opposite ends thereof and journaled for rotation for rotative movement about its axis relative thereto, the first end of said rod shaft projecting outwardly of said cylindrical shaft fly-wheel and terminating in a fly wheel of a diameter greater than the diameter of said rod shaft and lesser than the diameter of said cylindrical shaft fly-wheel, the opposite end of said rod shaft being journaled for rotation in a bearing suitably supported by a mounting bracket a sprocket wheel mounted on said rod shaft adjacent said bearing for rotation with said rod, said rod sprocket wheel being disposed substantially in the plane of said toothed sprocket wheel, and an endless sprocket chain trained about said toothed sprocket wheel and said rod shaft sprocket wheel whereby rotation of said rod about its axis effects the simultaneous rotation of said sprocket wheel to operate said tube valve.  
  3. The fire extinguishing sprinkling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein both said tube valve and said pipe valve are of an iris construction adapted to rapidly and efficiently open and close said associated tube and pipe lines upon rotation of said operating fly wheels.