US1087136A - Combined heating and sprinkler system. - Google Patents

Description

G. P. NUTTER & J. Bi CHATMAN.

comnmnn HEATING AND SPRINKLER SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED HAY 26, 1900.

1,087,1 36, Patentd Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. P. NUTTER & J. E. GHATMAN. COMBINED HEATING AND SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

Arrmoulon nun lune, 1906. ,037, 1 3 Patented Feb. 17., 19m

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. NUTTER, 0F MALDEN, AND JOHN E. CHATMAN, 0F SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specificatiod of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed May 26, 1906. Serial No. 318,814.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES P. Nu'rrnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Malden, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, and JOHN E. CHATMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Swanipscott, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Combined Heating and Sprinkler Systems, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

Our invention has for its object to provide a novel sprinkler system which is ca able of being used as a heating system so t at by the installation of one circulating system a building can be heated and can also be provided with an automatic sprinkler system capable of extinguishing fires.

We attain the above object by so arranging the sprinkler pipes of the sprinkler system that a heating medium can be circulated therethrough, thus converting the said pipes into heating pipes.

Our invention, therefore, is a combined sprinkler system and heating system, or a single system capable of performing the functions of both a sprinkler system and a heating system.

During warm weather, when itis unnecessary to use the heating feature of the invention, the circulation of the medium in the pipes is stopped, but the pipes are always full of sai medium and are ready for the extin ishing of fires whenever any of the sprin ler heads give way.

Other features of our invention will be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings we have illustrated largely diagrammatically one way in which our invention may be carried out.

Fi re 1 is a vertical section through a bail mg showing our combined sprinkler and heating system applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 23 Fig. 1.; Fig. 3 is a detail of a sprinkler head.

In Fig. 1 3 designates the floors of a building which is equipped with our combined sprinkler and heating system, said building being herein shown as having five stories. The sprinkler pipes which extend throughout the building are designated by 8 and these are referably placed near the ceiling or in suc other places as will permit them to properly perform their sprinkling function when occasion arises. Each pipehas mounted thereon a plurality of antomatic sprinkler heads 11 which may have any suitable or usual construction. sprinkler heads herein shown are of a wellknown type, and each comprises a valve 12 which closes a port 13 communicating with the sprinkler pipe 8 and which valve is held in place by a fusible retainer or connection 130 so that whenever sufiicient heat is developed near the sprinkler head to melt the fusible retainer, t valve 12 thereon will open, thus allowing the contents of the pipe 8 to be discharged. In the arrangement as shown in. the drawin the pipes8 are all connected at one en to a sup ly pipe 6 and are connected at the other end to a common return 7. In order that the pipes 8 may' also be used for heating pipesj we propose to connect the supply pipe 6 with a heater 4 (this being done herein by means of the pipe or connection 5), and to also connect the return pipe '1 with the heater insome suitable way so that the. medium which is circulated through the pipes 8 may be returned to the heater. It is within our A invention to use any suitable medium in the pipes 8 which is both capable of extinguishlllTg fires and of conveying heat to the pipes.

e prefer, however, to use water, for water can be readily heated, circulated through the pipes 8 and returned to the heater again, and it also makes a most effective medium for extinguishing fires. If found necessary to keep up a proper circulation of the hot water through the pipes 8, a circulating pump 10 may be employed, although this will not be necessary under all circumstances.

In Fig. 1 the sprinkler ipes 8 are shown as connected directl to t e supply pipe 6 and return pipe 7. n Fig. 2, said sprinkler pipes are connected directly to branches 9 which in turn connect to the supply pipe 6 and the return pipe 7. Provision is made, as will be more fully hereinafter described, so that the s rinkler pipes 8 are always maintained in l of water and are therefore always ready to act as s rinkler ipes. Whenever the pipes are to used a as heating pipes, the water in them is heated The to shut off heat. This can be convenand caused to be circulated therethrough. It is not necessary, however, to use the pipes I as heating pipes except in cold weather, and

in order that the heating function may be I eliminated without interfering in any way I with the sprinkling function, we providefor I stopping the circulation of the water'I through the pipes 8 whenever it is lesired iently done by arranging in each of the pipes a valve 15 which when closed cuts off communication between said pipeand the return. -VVhen the valves 15 are opened and the heater 4 is in operation, a heating medium will be circulated through the sprinkler pipes, thus converting said pipes into heating pipes. When the valves 15 are closed, the circulation of the heating medium is stopped and the heating function is eliminated from the system without, however, disturbing in any way the sprinkling function thereof. lVe prefer to place a valve 15 in each of the pipes-8 so that any one of the pipes can be used separately for heating purposes. The manner of connecting this combined system to the Water supply so as to always maintain the pipes 8 full of water. whether the water is circulating therethrough or not. will vary according to I the circumstances of the case. I

In Fig. l we have shown one simple lay I out which accomplishes the purpose With- I out, however, limiting ourselves to this construction. In said figure, the circulating I I pump 10, if one is used, is connected with I the water main 21 by means of a suitable I pipe 22 which will preferably have a valve I therein. The water main is also shown as being connected to the supply pipe 6 I through a pipe 23 which has a valve 30I therein. The supply pipe 6 extends to a pressure tank 24, said pipe being connected I to the tank both by means of a connection 25 which leads into the bottom of the tank I and by a connection 26 which leads into the top of the tank. The connection 26 is pro vided with a float valve 27 adapted to close when the water in the pressure tank falls below a predetermined level. 29 is a check I valve situated in the pipe 25 and arranged to permit the water to flow from the tank 24 to the supply pipe 6 but notin the re- 1 verse direetiom'and 28 is a check valve ar- I ranged to permit the water to fiow jrom the pipe 6 through the pipe 26 to the tank, but not in the reverse direction. I I I I The construction thus far described provides for a head of water in the tank 24 sutlicient to keep the pipes S always filled and said tank also allows for expansion of I the water in the pipes when it is heated. I There is sutlicient water in the tank 2-1 to extinguish a small tire without drawing on the city supply.

As stated above, the valve 27 is so arranged as to close when the water level in the tank 24 drops below a certain point, so

that after a certain amount of the water in r the tank 24 has been drawn off for extinguishing a fire, or other purpose, said valve Wlll close. If thefire is of considerable dimensions, however. so that here Water 1s needed for extinguishing it than is con-1 ceive the full pressure of the city Water.

\V hen the supply pipe 6 is thus connected to the main 21 the clie'cl; valve 29 Will prevent the water from flowing into the tank 24 through the connection 25, and the float valve 27 will prevent thewater from flowing into the tank through the connection 26. All the water delivered from the city main '21 therefore is directed into the pipes 8 for extinguishing the fire.

In many buildings a fire pump is sta tioned which may be put into play to pump the water under -increased pressure to various parts of the building. In the drawings we have shown such a fire pump at 31, and it is illustrated as being connected to the source of water supply by a suitable pipe and also connected to the pipe 26 by. a suitable pipe 34, which is herein shown as having a stop valve 35 and a check valve 36 therein. Said fire pump may also be connected with the pipe 21 by pipes 37 and 38. With this arrangement by properly manipulating the valves 40, -11 and 42 the tire pump may be connected either with the return 7 or with the supply pipe (3 or with both and may be usedto force water under any desired pressure through the sprinkler heads.

In practice the tire pump or other means for getting increased pressure will not be started until after the water in the tank 24 Ihas been drawn out sutliciently to permit the valve 27 to close. As a result, the 111- crcased pressure in the main (3 due to the fire pump or other pumping apparatus will not force the water into the tank 24, but will instead increase the pressure at the sprinkler heads.

50 designates a supply pump which may be used if necessary for pumping water into the supply tank 24 throughthe pipes 34 and 26, it being understood that the float valve 27 will have to be raised by hand in order to open it to permit the water to be pumped into the tank 24. This particular arrangement of fire pump, supply pump and the special system of piping for supplying water to the system in case a sprinkler-head gives way, maybe varied according to the circumstances of the case.

To prevent any possibility of any sprint kler head becoming opened by the heat con--1 veyed to it by the heating ipe 8, we may if desired employ some suitalile form of heatinsulated sprinkler head. Under ordinary circumstances, however, the 'heat generated in any pipe 8 will not be sufficient to melt the fusible connection of the sprinkler head. One 'simple way of heat insulating the sprinkler heads from'the ipes 8 is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein cac sprinkler head is shown asv being screwed into a nipple 16 which in turn is screwed into a bushing 17 of suitable heat-insulating material that is carried by the T 18. The bushing 17 prevents the heat in the ipe 8 from being conveyed. to the sprinkler head through the nipple 16, and the nipple 16 forms within it an air chamber, the air in which prevents the hot water fromcomingdirectly in contact with the valve.

Any other suitable manner of insulatin the sprinkler heads from the pipe S could be adopted, however, without departing from our invention.

It is apparent that the valves 15 may be adjusted to vary the flow of water through the individual sprinkler pipes without shut ting it off completely, if desired, and if there should be any tendency of the water to flow through certain pipes rather than others, such tendency can be counteracted and short-circuiting of the water prevented and a uniform distribution of the circulating water obtained by such adjustment.

The principal feature of our invention resides in arranging a sprinkler system so that the sprinkler pipes may be used for heating purposes, and we desire to claim this broadly.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a combined sprinkler and heating system,'the combination with a plurality of sprinkler pipes and a pluralityof sprinkler heads mounted on each pip'e,'of a supply pipe connected to all ofsaid sprinkler pipes, a return also connectcdto all of said pipes, whereby said pipes form part of a complete circulating system and means to maintain said pipes filled with a heating medium capable of extinguishing fires.

2. In a combined sprinkler and heating system, the combination with a plurality of sprinkler pipes, of a supply pipe connected to all of said pipes, a return also connected to all of said pipes. whereby said sprinkl ar pipes form part of a complete circulating system, and means to cause a heating medium capable of extinguishing fires to ci,r-.

culate through said pipes.

3. In a combined isprinklerand heating system. the combination with a plurality of sprinkler pipes, of a fifrality of sprinkler heads mounted on 'pipe, a supply pipe connected to all of said pipes, a return also connected to said pipes, means to maintain said pipes filled with a heating medium capable of extinguishing fires, and means to close communication between saidpipes and the return.

4. In a combined sprinkler anfil lieating of combined heating and sprinkler pipes connecting with both said supply and with Said return, a plurality of sprinkler heads mounted on each of said combined heating and sprinkler pipes, and independent means to close the communication between each of said pipes and the return whereby any one of the pipes may be cut out of the system as a heating pipe while remaining in the system as a sprinkler pipe.

6. In a combined heatingand sprinkler system, acombined heating and sprinkler pipe connected with and'forming part of a circulating system, sprinkler heads mounted on said pipe, and means whereby the heat.

ing function of said pipe mavbe eliminated without affecting the sprinkling function thereof. i

7. An automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus comprising a system of sprinkler pipes provided with beads, connections between their opposite ends forming a circulating system, connections between said system and a source of supply of water, and a heater included in said system. 5

8. In an automatic fire extinguishing system, an arrangement whereby water within such system may be cormtantly circulated and warmed and so protected from freezing, which consists of a combination of a heater, a conduit pipe connecting said heater with a manifold which unites the inlet ends of a series of distributing pipes having automatic distributing devices, a'manifold uniting the extremeor outlet ends of said distributing pipes with each other and with a conduit leading to and connecting with said heater, the whole constituting 'a closed circuit including the automatic fine extinguishing system and the heater, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic stationary fire extinguishing system, the combination with distributing pipes provided with automatic distributing and discharge devices, of a water heater, a supply conduit connecting the said hratcr with a manifold unltmg the inlets of the said distributing pipes, a return con 130 lating water through the sprinkler system.

'35 13. A sprinkler system, including supply duit connecting the said heater with a manifold uniting the outlet or dead ends of the said distributing pipes whereby a system is provided through which water may be circulated warm and so kept from freezing, substantially as described;

10. In arr automatic stationary fire extinguishingsystem, the combination with Water distributing pipes having automatic dis-- tributing devices, of'a manifold uniting the inlet ends of suchpipes, a water heater, a supply conduit connecting said heater with said manifold, a manifoldv uniting the extreme or outlet ends of the said distributing. pipes with each other and with a return con-' duit connecting this manifold with the heater whereby water inclosed within the system may be circulated and warmed and so prevented from freezing, substantially as described. 1

11. The combination, with I a sprinkler system, including supply and branch pipes. the latter provided with sprinkler heads, of

a hot water heater having its outlet con nected with the supply pipe,and a cennection between the heater inlet and the outer ends of the branch pipes, whereby hot water can be circulated through the sprinkler system when in normal condition.

12. The combination, with a sprinkler system arranged .for thecontinuous circulation of water therethrough under normal conditions, of means for heating and circupipes and sprinkler branches connected therewith, in continuous CUll'lIllllIllQalllOll with a source of water supply, and means to permit circulation of water througlrthe system, combined with means to heat and efiect the circulation of the water through the sprinkler system.

14-. The combination with a sprinkler system having branches provided with sprinkler hcads, and water supplying pipes 'ior said branches, of means to circulate water ihrough the said supplying pipes.

.15. A sprinkler system including branches provided with sprinkler heads, and water distributing and return pipes connected with the branches to permit circulation of water lhercthrough. and means to circulate water through the sprinkler system.

in. .:prinkler system including branches provided with sprinkler heads, and water di ributing and return pipes connected \\'lil1 the branches to permitcirculalion of water thcrethrough. combined with a circulating pump having its inlet and outlet connected, respectively. with the return and distrilmting pipes. and means to heat the eater in circulation.

17. A sprinkler system, a water supply in continuous communication therewith,

means to heat and circulate water through the sprinkler system,'and areturn connecand circulating means.

18. The combination with water supply and return pipes, and a series of branches connected therewith and provided with sprinkler heads, to 'form a'circulating system, of means to efiectthe circulation of water through such system.

19. The combination with water supply and return pipes, and a series of branches connected therewith andprovided with sprinkler heads, to form a circulating system, of means to effect the circulation of water through such system, and means to heat-the wateras it passes to the circulatmg system.

20. The combination, with a sprinkler system including branches provided with sprinkler heads, and supply pipes for said branches, of means to effect the circulation of water through the'supply pipes, and means to insulate the sprinkler heads from the heat of the circulating water.

21. The 1 combination, with 1 a. sprinkler system arranged to form a closed circulating loop, and a water. supply in continuous communication therewith, of means to eftect the circulation of water through such circulating loop.

22. The combination, with a sprinkler system arranged to form a closed circulatinglcop. and a water supply in'continuou's con'nnunication therewith, of means to effeet the circulation of water through such tion between said system and the heatingcirculating loop, and means to raise the temperature of the water in circulation.

23. A circulation system of pipin provided with sprinkler heads individually and automatically operative upon a predetermined rise in temperature, a source of.water supply in constant communication with such system, and means separate from such vvide bodies of dead air adjacent the sprin kler heads and thereby insulate the latter from the heat of the water.

26. The combinatiin with a plurality of branches provided with sprinkler heads. distributing and return pipes connected with the branches, means to effect the circulation of water through said pipes and branches,

and means interposed between the distributing pipes and the branches to prevent shortcircuiting of the water.

27. In a sprinkler system, a series of sprinkler branches distributing and return pipes connected therewith, means to heat and circulate water through the system, asource of Water supply in constant communication with the system, and means to efi'ect a substantially uniform distribution of Water from the distributing pipes to the branches and thereby prevent sliort-circuit-ing.

28. The combination with a circulating system of sprinkler pipes provided with heads, of a heater included therein, connections between said system and a source of,

supply of water, a by-pass connection around the heater, and a valve controlling said by pass connection.

29. In a s rinkler system, pipes arranged to form a circulation loop, means to circulate water therein, sprinkler pipes included in the circulation loop, sprinkler heads therein, and a connection in the loop to a main supply of water.

In a circulating system, pipes and a water receptacle, arranged to'form a circular tion loop, means to circulate water therein, sprinkler pipes included in the circulation loop, sprinkler heads therein, and a connection in the'loop to a main supply of water.

31. In a sprinkler system, pipes arranged to form a circulation loop, a circulating pump in said loop, sprinkler pipes included in the circulation loop, sprinkler heads therein, and a connection to a main supply of,water entering the loop between the sprinkler pipes and the'intake side of the circulating pump.

In, testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES P. NUTTER. JOHN E. CHATMAN. Witnesses:

BERTHA F. HEUSEB, LoUIs C. SMITH.

00p! 0! mpetent-my be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at Patents, Washington, D. C."

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