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Apparatus and method for converting a fire suppression system from a single interlock electric or double interlock electro-pneumatic system to a single interlock pneumatic system which draws no electrical power. A pneumatic actuator is in fluid communication with a pressurized piping network and a c

Apparatus and method for converting a fire suppression system from a single interlock electric or double interlock electro-pneumatic system to a single interlock pneumatic system which draws no electrical power. A pneumatic actuator is in fluid communication with a pressurized piping network and a control valve controlling flow of fire suppressant to the network. The pneumatic actuator is isolated from the piping network by a check valve and a latching solenoid valve. In the event of a power failure the latching solenoid valve is opened, placing the pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with the piping network. Electrical power is drawn only to change the state of the latching solenoid valve, it otherwise draws no power. When the latching solenoid valve is open the pneumatic actuator controls actuation of the control valve, and triggers the control valve when there is a pressure change in the piping network indicative of a fire.

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1. A fire suppression sprinkler system for conducting a fire suppressant from a pressurized source of said suppressant to a fire, said system being powered by an electrical power supply and an electrical battery and comprising: a piping network in fluid communication with said pressurized source of

1. A fire suppression sprinkler system for conducting a fire suppressant from a pressurized source of said suppressant to a fire, said system being powered by an electrical power supply and an electrical battery and comprising: a piping network in fluid communication with said pressurized source of fire suppressant;at least one sprinkler in fluid communication with said piping network, said sprinkler being normally closed and having means for opening in response to a fire;a control valve positioned in said piping network between said pressurized source and said sprinkler for controlling flow of said fire suppressant from said pressurized source to said sprinkler, said control valve being normally maintained in a closed configuration, said control valve being openable to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler;a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with said piping network between said control valve and said sprinkler for pressurizing said piping network with said gas;an electrical actuator associated with said control valve for opening said control valve in response to an electrical signal, said electrical actuator being powered at least by said power supply;a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with said piping network, said pneumatic actuator being associated with said control valve for opening said control valve in response to a pressure change within said piping network;an isolation valve in fluid communication with and positioned between said pneumatic actuator and said piping network, said isolation valve controlling gas flow from said piping network to said pneumatic actuator, said isolation valve being powered by said power supply or said battery and settable in either an open configuration allowing fluid flow between said piping network and said pneumatic actuator, or a closed configuration preventing fluid flow between said piping network and said pneumatic actuator, said isolation valve drawing no electrical power when set in either of said open or closed configurations;at least one fire sensor co-located with said sprinkler, said fire sensor being powered at least by said power supply;a control system in communication with said electrical actuator, said isolation valve, and said fire sensor, said control system being powered by said power supply and said battery, said control system having a circuit to detect loss of power from said power supply and being programmed to set said isolation valve in said open configuration in response thereto. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a circuit to detect a resumption of power from said power supply, said control system being programmed to set said isolation valve in said closed configuration in response thereto. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said isolation valve comprises an electrically actuated valve. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said isolation valve comprises a latching solenoid valve. 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said isolation valve is selected from the group consisting of ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves and globe valves. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control valve comprises a chamber in fluid communication with said pressurized source of fire suppressant, said control valve being maintained in said closed configuration when said chamber is pressurized, said control valve opening to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler when said chamber is depressurized. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said electrical actuator comprises a solenoid valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said solenoid valve being normally closed and openable in response to an electrical signal from said control system, opening of said solenoid valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open. 8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises: a first valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said first valve being normally closed, opening of said first valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open;a second valve in fluid communication with said first valve and said piping network, said second valve being normally closed and openable in response to a change in gas pressure within said piping network, opening of said second valve causing said first valve to open. 9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with said piping network, said second pneumatic actuator being associated with said control valve for opening said control valve in response to a pressure change within said piping network, said second pneumatic actuator cooperating with said electrical actuator to open said control valve, said control valve being openable in response to said electrical signal to said electrical actuator and said pressure change within said piping network. 10. A fire suppression sprinkler system for conducting a fire suppressant from a pressurized source of said suppressant to a fire, said system being powered by an electrical power supply and comprising: a piping network in fluid communication with said pressurized source of fire suppressant;at least one sprinkler in fluid communication with said piping network, said sprinkler being normally closed and having means for opening in response to a fire;a control valve positioned in said piping network between said pressurized source and said sprinkler for controlling flow of said fire suppressant from said pressurized source to said sprinkler, said control valve being normally maintained in a closed position and openable to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler;a first actuator in communication with said control valve, said first actuator being electrically powered by said power supply and controlling the opening of said control valve in response to an electric signal;a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with said piping network between said control valve and said sprinkler for pressurizing said piping network with said gas;a second actuator in communication with said control valve and in fluid communication with said piping network, said second actuator having a pressure sensor for detecting a change in pressure within said piping network and opening said control valve in response to said pressure change;a latching solenoid valve in fluid communication with and positioned between said second actuator and said piping network, said latching solenoid valve controlling gas flow from said piping network to said second actuator, said latching solenoid valve being powered by said power supply and settable in either an open configuration allowing fluid flow between said piping network and said second actuator, or a closed configuration preventing fluid flow between said piping network and second actuator;at least one fire sensor co-located with said sprinkler, said fire sensor being powered by said power supply;a control system in communication with said first actuator, said latching solenoid valve, and said fire sensor, said control system being powered by said power supply and an electrical battery, said control system having a circuit to detect loss of power from said power supply and being programmed to set said latching solenoid valve in said open configuration in response thereto. 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said control system further comprises a circuit to detect resumption of power from said power supply, said control system being programmed to set said latching solenoid in said closed configuration in response thereto. 12. A fire suppression sprinkler system for conducting a fire suppressant from a pressurized source of said suppressant to a fire, said system being powered by an electrical power supply and comprising: a piping network in fluid communication with said pressurized source of fire suppressant;at least one sprinkler in fluid communication with said piping network, said sprinkler being normally closed and having means for opening in response to a fire;a control valve positioned in said piping network between said pressurized source and said sprinkler for controlling flow of said fire suppressant from said pressurized source to said sprinkler, said control valve comprising a chamber in fluid communication with said pressurized source, said control valve being maintained in a closed position when said chamber is pressurized, said control valve opening to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler when said chamber is depressurized;a first valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said first valve being electrically powered by said power supply, said first valve being normally closed and openable in response to an electrical signal, opening of said first valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open;a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with said piping network between said control valve and said sprinkler for pressurizing said piping network with said gas;a second valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said second valve being normally closed, opening of said second valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open;a third valve in fluid communication with said second valve and said piping network, said third valve being normally closed and openable in response to a change in gas pressure within said piping network, opening of said third valve causing said second valve to open;a latching solenoid valve in fluid communication with and positioned between said third valve and said piping network, said latching solenoid valve controlling gas flow from said piping network to said third valve, said latching solenoid valve being powered by said power supply and settable in either an open configuration allowing fluid flow between said piping network and said third valve, or a closed configuration preventing fluid flow between said piping network and said third valve;at least one fire sensor co-located with said sprinkler, said fire sensor being powered by said power supply;a control system in communication with said first valve, said latching solenoid valve, and said fire sensor, said control system being powered by said power supply and an electrical battery, said control system having a circuit to detect loss of power from said power supply and being programmed to set said latching solenoid valve in said open configuration in response thereto. 13. The system according to claim 12, said control system further comprising a circuit to detect resumption of power from said power supply, said control system being programmed to set said latching solenoid valve in said closed configuration in response thereto. 14. A fire suppression sprinkler system for conducting a fire suppressant from a pressurized source of said suppressant to a fire, said system being powered by an electrical power supply and an electrical battery and comprising: a piping network in fluid communication with said pressurized source;at least one sprinkler in fluid communication with said piping network, said sprinkler being normally closed and having means for opening in response to a fire;a control valve positioned in said piping network between said pressurized source and said sprinkler for controlling flow of said fire suppressant from said pressurized source to said sprinkler, said control valve being normally maintained in a closed position, said control valve being openable to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler;a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with said piping network between said control valve and said sprinkler for pressurizing said piping network with said gas;an electro-pneumatic actuator associated with said control valve for opening said control valve in response to an electrical signal and a pneumatic signal, said electro-pneumatic actuator being powered at least by said power supply;a pneumatic actuator in fluid communication with said piping network, said pneumatic actuator being associated with said control valve for opening said control valve in response to a pressure change within said piping network;an isolation valve in fluid communication with and positioned between said pneumatic actuator and said piping network, said isolation valve controlling gas flow from said piping network to said pneumatic actuator, said isolation valve being powered by said power supply or said battery and settable in either an open configuration allowing fluid flow between said piping network and said pneumatic actuator, or a closed configuration preventing fluid flow between said piping network and said pneumatic actuator, said isolation valve drawing no electrical power when set in either of said open or closed configurations;at least one fire sensor co-located with said sprinkler, said fire sensor being powered at least by said power supply;a control system in communication with said electro-pneumatic actuator, said isolation valve, and said fire sensor, said control system being powered by said power supply and said battery, said control system having a circuit to detect loss of power from said power supply and being programmed to set said isolation valve in said open configuration in response thereto. 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said control system further comprises a circuit to detect a resumption of power from said power supply, said control system being programmed to set said isolation valve in said closed configuration in response thereto. 16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said isolation valve comprises a latching solenoid valve. 17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said control valve comprises a chamber in fluid communication with said pressurized source of fire suppressant, said control valve being maintained in a closed position when said chamber is pressurized, said control valve opening to permit said fire suppressant to flow to said sprinkler when said chamber is depressurized. 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said electro-pneumatic actuator comprises: a first valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said first valve being normally closed, opening of said first valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open;a second valve in fluid communication with said first valve and said piping network, said second valve being normally closed and openable in response to a pressure change within said piping network;a third valve in fluid communication with said chamber and mechanically linked to said second valve, said third valve being normally closed and openable in response to an electrical signal from said control system, opening of said third valve in conjunction with a pressure change in said piping network allowing aid second valve to open, thereby allowing said first valve to open, and thereby allowing said control valve to open. 19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said pneumatic actuator comprises: a first valve in fluid communication with said chamber, said first valve being normally closed, opening of said first valve depressurizing said chamber and thereby allowing said control valve to open;a second valve in fluid communication with said first valve and said piping network, said second valve being normally closed and openable in response to a change in gas pressure within said piping network, opening of said second valve causing said first valve to open.