초록 ▼

A differential dry pipe control valve for fire protection sprinkler systems includes an eccentric plug that rotates and separates supply water and system air pressure and uses an integral actuator that maintains the seal of the eccentric plug with a smaller ratio of air pressure to a higher supply w

A differential dry pipe control valve for fire protection sprinkler systems includes an eccentric plug that rotates and separates supply water and system air pressure and uses an integral actuator that maintains the seal of the eccentric plug with a smaller ratio of air pressure to a higher supply water pressure. When the sprinkler system is actuated, the actuator allows the rotary eccentric plug to open the waterway and includes an eccentric plug opening that swings out of the waterway to reduce friction loss of the water supply. The eccentric plug includes a conical rubber coated seat surface and dynamic metal seal seat that seals due to water pressure eliminating close tolerance mating of sealing components. The actuator includes an integral alarm connection to provide a required alarm function and acts as a pilot differential actuator to provide the required operation of an approximately 5.5:1 ratio differential dry pipe control valve. This valve can also function as an open system Deluge valve or closed system Preaction valve for sprinkler systems that operate from separate detection systems where the supply liquid holds the valve closed until a detection system detects a fire and signals the deluge valve to open for discharge of suppressant liquid on the protected fire area.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A control valve for a dry pipe sprinkler system having a water supply and a supply of pressurized gas, comprising: a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a fluid passage extending between said inlet end and said outlet end;a valve seat disposed in said valve body;a plug member rot

1. A control valve for a dry pipe sprinkler system having a water supply and a supply of pressurized gas, comprising: a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a fluid passage extending between said inlet end and said outlet end;a valve seat disposed in said valve body;a plug member rotatably supported in said valve body and movable between a closed position disposed against said valve seat and an open position spaced from said valve seat;a latch mechanism for releasably holding said plug member in said closed position, wherein said latch mechanism is disposed external to said fluid passage; andan actuator assembly including a piston disposed in a chamber, said chamber being supplied with the supply of pressurized gas on one side thereof and the water supply on a second side thereof, said piston being drivingly connected to said latch mechanism for disengaging said latch mechanism in response to a reduction in pressure of the supply of pressurized gas. 2. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said inlet end and said outlet end of said valve body have a center axis and wherein said plug member rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to and laterally offset from said center axis. 3. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve seat is axially biased by a spring. 4. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said plug member is rotatably supported by a pair of bushings, one of said pair of bushings being disposed in a bore in said housing. 5. The control valve according to claim 4, wherein said pair of bushings includes a second bushing disposed in an aperture in a cover mounted to said valve body. 6. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve body includes a water connecting port disposed between said inlet end and said valve seat, said water connecting port being connected to said actuator assembly for providing the water supply to said second side of said piston. 7. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve body includes a gas connecting port disposed between said outlet end and said valve seat, said gas connecting port being connected to said actuator assembly for providing the supply of pressurized gas to said one side of said piston. 8. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said plug member includes an elastomeric coating disposed on a surface thereof that engages said valve seat. 9. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said piston is connected to said latch mechanism by a connecting rod fixedly connected to said piston, said latch mechanism including a latch plate engageable by an actuator coupling which is connected to said connecting rod, said actuator coupling being further connected to a plug shaft that is fixed to said plug member, said latch mechanism further comprising a spring rotatably biasing said plug shaft to rotate said plug member toward said open position. 10. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said actuator assembly includes a fluid alarm connection in communication with said chamber. 11. The control valve according to claim 1, wherein said plug member includes a plug face adapted to engage said valve seat, said plug face being connected to a pair of pivot arms extending from a rear surface of said plug face. 12. A control valve for a dry pipe sprinkler system having a water supply and a supply of pressurized gas, comprising: a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a fluid passage extending between said inlet end and said outlet end;a valve seat disposed in said valve body;a plug member supported in said valve body and movable between a closed position disposed against said valve seat and an open position spaced from said valve seat;a latch mechanism for releasably holding said plug member in said closed position, said latch mechanism being disposed external to said fluid passage; andan actuator assembly including an actuator chamber, said actuator chamber being supplied with the supply of pressurized gas on one side thereof and the water supply on a second side thereof, said actuator being connected to said latch mechanism by a connecting rod for disengaging said latch mechanism in response to a reduction in pressure of the supply of pressurized gas, wherein said latch mechanism includes a latch plate engageable by an actuator coupling which is connected to said connecting rod, said actuator coupling being further connected to a plug shaft that is fixed to said plug member, said latch mechanism further comprising a spring rotatably biasing said plug shaft to rotate said plug member toward said open position when said actuator coupling is disengaged from said latch plate. 13. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said inlet end and said outlet end of said valve body have a center axis and wherein said plug member rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to and laterally offset from said center axis. 14. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said valve seat is axially biased by a spring. 15. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said plug member is rotatably supported by a pair of bushings, one of said pair of bushings being disposed in a bore in said housing. 16. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said valve body includes a water connecting port disposed between said inlet end and said valve seat, said water connecting port being connected to said actuator assembly for providing the water supply to said actuator chamber. 17. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said valve body includes a gas connecting port disposed between said outlet end and said valve seat, said gas connecting port being connected to said actuator assembly for providing the supply of pressurized gas to said actuator chamber. 18. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said actuator assembly is connected to said latch mechanism by an actuator lever. 19. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said actuator assembly includes a fluid alarm connection in communication with said actuator chamber. 20. The control valve according to claim 12, wherein said plug member includes a plug face adapted to engage said valve seat, said plug face being connected to a pair of pivot arms extending from a rear surface of said plug face. 21. A control valve for a dry pipe sprinkler system having a water supply and a supply of pressurized gas, comprising: a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end;a valve seat disposed in said valve body;a plug member rotatably supported in said valve body and movable between a closed position disposed against said valve seat and an open position spaced from said valve seat;an actuator assembly including an actuator chamber, said actuator chamber being supplied with the supply of pressurized gas on one side thereof and the water supply on a second side thereof, said actuator assembly including an alarm connection port in direct communication with said actuator chamber so as to be supplied with water when said actuator assembly is activated; anda latch mechanism for releasably holding said plug member in said closed position, said actuator assembly being connected to said latch mechanism for disengaging said latch mechanism in response to a reduction in pressure of the supply of pressurized gas.