ES1285834U - AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic fire extinguishing device (1) for electrical installations, characterized in that it comprises a tank (3) with pressurized extinguishing agent (4), to be released in fire conditions, where the tank (3) comprises at least one flat face (5). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE FOR FACILITIES

ELECTRICAL

technical field

The present invention can be included within the field of safety in electrical installations. More specifically, the object of the invention refers to an autonomous automatic fire extinguishing device for electrical installations, particularly for electrical panels, electrical cabinets, telecommunications and many other applications.

Background

The most common traditional fire extinguishing systems in electrical panels or cabinets basically consist of an extinguishing container, with a pressurized extinguishing agent that has a pneumatic, electrical, mechanical or any other type of valve, which is connected to a detection and discharge.

These traditional systems have limitations that are associated with numerous problems or inconveniences, both with respect to the container, as well as with respect to the design of the system itself, which are discussed below:

Disadvantages regarding the container

The traditional systems described above use containers with certain specifications, such as a certain material with a certain thickness or a particular geometry.

The main problems of these devices are:

(i) a limitation of the material used, which are usually more expensive; Y

(ii) a limitation of sizes and/or geometries that mean that they cannot be placed in the free spaces of most of the cabinets, forcing it to be installed outside / on the outside of the cabinet to be protected, which can generate numerous inconveniences or problems:

- Accidental, improper or involuntary knocks or manipulations on the elements of the extinguishing system (container with its valve, detection line and/or discharge line), which may cause, among others, accidental discharge or blockage-inaction of the extinguishing system .

- That a perforation in the cabinet is required to pass the detection and extinction line from the container to the inside of the cabinet, which may lead to loss of tightness, certifications and guarantees of the cabinets.

Therefore, the limitation that they cannot be placed inside many cabinets (small cabinets, with little free space, fire-resistant cabinets, etc.) is due to the fact that these traditional systems basically use cylindrical steel containers of considerable size , since they are also used for other applications, and it would be necessary to use containers that were specific for this application.

Therefore, there is a need to protect electrical cabinets with a device that can always be placed inside the cabinet itself and acts at the origin of the fire, since fires start inside electrical cabinets.

Drawbacks Regarding System Design

One way to avoid the need to drill into the cabinets would be, in view of the above, to place the extinguishing systems inside the cabinet to be protected.

Traditional systems do not have their different elements (container, valve, detection line, discharge, etc.) integrated into a single piece of equipment/unit, so it is necessary to bring lines, which will include their respective connections and accessories, from the container to the final detection element and to the discharge diffuser, which, on the one hand, implies a very large size of the extinguishing system and, on the other hand, does not allow easy mobility of said extinguishing system.

In addition, these lines may require a fastening element, which is sometimes not possible to place or can create additional difficulties.

All this has numerous drawbacks, such as:

- Subtract useful free space in the frame, that is, usable space to place the essential elements in a frame (differentials, wiring, etc.)

- Modify the aesthetics or good arrangement of the components of a wardrobe. Normally this is structured by rails, gutters, etc.

- Generate alterations or interference with other elements or components of the cabinet, which could affect its proper functioning.

In short, these traditional systems should be compact, that is, integrate the different elements, and in its maximum expression of integration it is achieved that all the elements are in the extinguishing container with hardly any increase in size or volume.

One way of not having to drill the cabinets would be to place these extinguishing systems inside the cabinet to be protected, but with these traditional systems their placement inside is unfeasible or it generates other additional problems or inconveniences.

Summary description of the invention

The present invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks, by means of an automatic fire extinguishing device for electrical panels or cabinets, telecommunications and other multiple applications, and which can be installed, without drilling, inside any electrical installation, such as as a picture or cabinet, regardless of the type of cabinet or existing free space.

The extinguishing device of the present invention is more generally described by the features of the main claim. Particular embodiments of the present invention are shown in dependent claims.

The extinguishing device of the invention allows to integrate, according to some of the embodiments, in a compact solution, the identification of fire conditions, that is, the detection of the fire (through means of reaction, as will be explained below ), and the release of the extinguishing agent, without the need for electrical power, that is, autonomously.

The device of the invention, as will be explained below, has, in a preferred embodiment, a compact design, with a suitable size and geometry, with a direct anchoring, which allows it to be installed inside any cabinet instantly without drilling, without reducing useful free space and without interfering with the rest of the components, respecting (or not affecting) the safety and guarantees of the cabinet.

Further advantages of the extinguishing device according to the present invention are mentioned below.

- Unlike other equipment, it allows all the components to be included inside the cabinet to be protected, due to its compact design with special geometries that facilitate its integration and installation inside any cabinet.

- Versatile and adaptable to any wardrobe. Device of reduced size and special geometry, which allows it to be integrated inside any cabinet. It adapts to any existing free space in the electrical panel or electrical cabinet, so that, by having one or several flat faces, the available space is better used, optimizing the extinguishing capacity.

- Respect the safety and guarantees of the electrical cabinet. As it is a device that can be fixed inside, it does not need drilling in the cabinet, increasing its safety and guaranteeing that the cabinet does not lose its tightness and guarantees.

- Easy collation, also thanks to its innovative direct anchoring device without drilling.

- Safe and clean. After extinguishing the fire, it does not leave residues and does not require cleaning. It is also not dangerous for people and/or equipment.

Brief description of the figures

The above and other advantages and characteristics will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some examples of embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which should be considered by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of the extinguishing device of the invention mounted on an electrical panel.

Figure 2 shows a broken internal view of a first example of the second embodiment of the extinguishing device.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the extinguishing device, in which non-destructive joining means can be seen to fix the tank to a rail of an electrical panel.

- Figure 4 schematically shows an example of the first embodiment, with separate reaction means and discharge means.

- Figures 5A and 5B show two more compact variants of the first example of the second embodiment.

- Figure 6 shows a diagram of a second example of the second embodiment.

List of references

1 extinguishing device

2 electrical panels

3 Deposit

4 extinguishing agent

5 flat faces

6 lanes

7 gutters

8 Common Element

9 opening

10 Bushing

11 Male thread

12 female thread

13 Stopper

14 diffuser elements

15 Duct

16 Weakened Zones

17 Bonding Media

18 First Portion

19 Second Portion

20 Clipping Media

21 sensors

22 valve

23 Accommodation

24 hole

25 Blind Free End

26 Sectorization element

27 cover

28 Heat labile tube

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

Next, with the help of the aforementioned attached figures 1-6, a detailed description of several preferred embodiments of a fire extinguishing device (1), to put out fires inside electrical installations, such as electrical panels (2), electrical cabinets and the like, according to the present invention.

For this, the extinguishing device (1) comprises a tank (3) with pressurized extinguishing agent (4), to be released in fire conditions, where the tank (3) comprises at least one flat face (5), which can be preferably a tank (3) with six or more flat faces (5), such that, for example, it is parallelepiped and, more particularly, cubic. The tank (3) is expected to be internally reinforced in areas where deformation may occur that alters the initially planned shape of the tank (3) -for example, in the center of the flat face or faces (5). Preferably, the extinguishing agent (4) is of a type that does not leave residues, such as, for example, Novec, or FM-200 and, therefore, allows the components of the electrical panel (2) to continue operating normally after the fire has been put out.

The extinguishing device (1) also incorporates connection means (17) to fix the tank (3) inside the electrical installation, such as inside the cabinet, the panel (2), etc. Advantageously, the joining means (17) are of the non-destructive type, that is, they do not involve a destructive interaction with the installation; in particular, they do not require drilling for installation. By way of example, the joining means (17) can be of the form-fitting type; for example, clipped, either forming part of the tank (3) or being configured to be mounted both on the tank (3) and on structures (6, 7) of the installation. In this way, the tank (3) can be easily fixed to usual structures (6, 7) of the installation, such as rails (6), or gutters (7), of an electrical cabinet or an electrical panel (2) or, in general, to any wall or area of the installation in which the tank (3) is arranged. As an alternative to clipping, the connection means (17) can comprise magnets (not shown), which provides a very simple connection when the tank (3) is metallic and the structure (6, 7), rail (6), gutter ( 7), or any wall or area of the installation is also metallic. Otherwise, the attachment means (17) may comprise, in addition to magnets, accessories, such as adhesive plates (not shown) as a non-limiting example, to fix the magnets to the tank (3) and/or to the structure (6, 7) required and/or deposit (3). In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, clipping-type non-destructive joining means (17) are shown, comprising a first portion (18) fixed to the tank (3), and a second portion (19), fixed to the first portion (3), as well as clipping means (20), present in the first portion (18) and in the second portion (19), to connect to the rail (6) electrical panel (2).

With the provision in the tank (3) of one or several flat faces (5), together with the non-destructive joining means, it is possible, first of all, to be able to adapt the extinguishing device (1) of the invention to any installation electric, with a tank (3) that, in general, improves and, in particular, in the case of a tank (3) with a cubic or parallelepiped shape, optimizes to the maximum, the volume available to obtain the maximum extinguishing capacity, without without interfering with the elements of the installation where, for example, the tank (3) can be oriented both horizontally and vertically, and without causing alterations to the installation (for example, drilling), which may imply a decrease in safety and including loss of guarantees. This is because, in particular, a parallelepiped or cubic tank (3) has a geometry that perfectly adapts to the existing volume between the differentials mounted on the rails of an electrical cabinet (2), which makes it possible to have the largest amount of extinguishing agent with respect to the available space.

On the other hand, the extinguishing device (1) of the invention additionally includes reaction means and discharge means, which react to a fire and discharge the extinguishing agent (4) contained in the tank (3).

Next, two embodiments are described that clarify, in more detail, various particular configurations and arrangements of the reaction means and discharge means, as well as the advantages they provide. Reaction media consist of components that are sensitive to fire conditions, such as high temperature and pressure, presence of smoke, etc., while the discharge means serve to release the extinguishing agent (4) contained in the tank (3).

FIRST REALIZATION

In the first embodiment, illustrated by means of Fig. 4, the reaction means and the discharge means are separate, not forming part of the common reaction and discharge means. In this sense, the reaction means may include, for their part, detectors, such as one or more sensors (21), for example, of smoke and/or temperature, etc., as well as the discharge means comprise one or more several valves (22) with function (pneumatic, electric, etc.) fluidly communicated with the extinguishing agent (4) from the tank (3), each valve (22) being commanded to release the extinguishing agent (4) from the tank (3 ), when a fire is detected based on information from the sensors (21). The valves (22) can be of reduced size, for example, with a length not exceeding 5 cm, such that between 2-5 cm, which allows them to be placed in the lower part of the tank (3) without hardly increasing the size of the device. . In this way, the use of valves (22) of reduced size, allow maintaining an extinguishing device that is also reduced, as well as they can be placed in the lower part, either towards the interior or downwards, with which it is achieved that the extinguishing agent (4) can leave the tank (3) directly by gravity and, therefore, they avoid the use of siphon tubes and accessories for discharge, which makes the installation cheaper and improves its performance.

SECOND REALIZATION

In the second embodiment, illustrated by means of figures 2 and 5, a greater degree of compactness is provided, with respect to that explained for the first embodiment, by eliminating the presence of external valves (22) and sensors (21). In particular, the reaction means and at least part of the discharge means are unified into common reaction and discharge means, as explained below. In this case, in the reaction media, the external sensors (21) are dispensed with in favor of one or more thermolabile elements, which react to the fire conditions (high pressure and/or temperature), activating the action of the media. download.

The common reaction and discharge means comprise, as just indicated, a common element (8), with a thermolabile character, and connected to an opening (9) of the tank (3). The common element (8) can withstand the pressure of the tank (3), although, due to the effect of temperature, it degrades and allows the discharge of the extinguishing agent (4). Preferably, the common element (8) is connected to the lower part of the tank (3).

By way of a first example, the common element (8) may comprise, as will be explained later, a tube (28), connected to the opening (9) of the reservoir (3). By way of a second example, the common element (8) may comprise a bushing (10) also connected to the opening (9) of the reservoir (3) by various means, such as, for example, adhesive means, or as illustrated in the figures, threaded means; in particular, with a male thread (11) on the bushing (10), to be screwed into a female thread (12) of the opening (9) of the reservoir (3). In particular, the bushing (10) may include a heat-labile cover (27) located at one end of the bushing (10) opposite the connection with the opening (9), as will be detailed later. Alternatively, the common element (8) can include a thermolabile plug (13), housed in the bushing (10), and which preferably closes the opening (9). Only the cap (13), as well as the cap (10), can be thermolabile, so that, when the temperature rises, the cap (10) and/or the cap (13) yield, leaving , where appropriate, the opening (9) totally or partially free, and allowing the discharge of the extinguishing agent (4). The stopper (13) can be configured as a membrane or comprise a membrane, as shown in the figures. According to an illustrative example, the cap (10) or the plug (13) can have dimensions of the order of 1 cm. According to preferred embodiments, the cap (10) or the plug (13) can include weakened areas (16), for example, with fractional cut, to facilitate a specific predetermined degradation.

The common element (8), in particular, the plug (13) or, where appropriate, the membrane, can be made of various materials, preferably plastic polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyurethane, although it is also possible to use of others, including metallic materials, such as brass, that break down adequately with temperature. Likewise, the common element (8), as well as, where appropriate, the plug (13) or the membrane, are easily sized to yield under a predetermined combination of temperature, time and pressure.

On the other hand, on some occasions, the installation protected by the extinguishing device (1) has large dimensions, for example, a large cabinet or panel (2), or even the location of the tank (3) may not allow reach all potential sources of fire, either from the cabinet or panel (2), or from a larger installation. In these circumstances, it can be incorporated, both in the case of separate reaction means and discharge means according to the first embodiment, as well as reaction means and discharge common with the common element (8) of the second embodiment, a conduit (15), which can be both rigid and flexible or moldable, and which allows the tank (3) to communicate, directly or indirectly, with a possible source of fire away from the tank (3), to discharge the extinguishing agent (4) away from the tank (3), as well as to constitute an additional means of transferring, by conduction, the heat of the fire from the source to the common element (8) , and also to focus the discharge of extinguishing agent (4). Optionally, at least one diffuser element (14) can be included, to cause a discharge directed towards a predetermined position, and where the diffuser element can be at the free end of the duct (15), although alternatively it can also be housed in the bushing. (10), either upstream or downstream of the plug (13).

The inclusion of one or more diffuser elements (14) in the reaction and discharge means of the second embodiment, facilitates the discharge of the extinguishing agent (4) according to a predetermined discharge pattern, with which it is achieved that, for whatever the way in which the common element (8) degrades, discharge control can be achieved as required, based on parameters such as: discharge pattern, direction, flow rate, range, etc.

Next, in light of what has been explained above, several preferred examples of the second embodiment are detailed. In particular, in the light of figure 2, according to a first example of the second embodiment, the cap (13) is configured as a sheet, as well as the cap (10), mounted in the lower part of the tank ( 3), fulfills a triple function: on the one hand, it has a connection with the tank (3), for example through the male thread (11) in cooperation with the female thread (12); on the other hand, it includes a housing (23), to retain the cap (13); and finally it also has a hole (24) to let out the extinguishing agent (4). Additionally, a second example, also illustrated by means of Figure 2, describes the inclusion of the duct (15) previously explained, which is made of plastic or metallic material, and which at its free end may optionally include the diffuser (14).

In a particularly compact variant of the first example of the second embodiment, whose definition starts from figure 2, and which is shown in figures 5A and 5B, the common element (8) integrates together, in the bushing (10) itself, both the reaction means, as well as the discharge means and also the diffuser element (14), for discharge control, all in a single element, that is, in the common element (8), fixed directly to the tank (3) And it barely takes up space. In a first example, shown in figure 5A, the bushing (10) of the common element (8) is fixable, at one end, in the opening (9) of the tank (3), for example, by means of the aforementioned male thread (11); as well as the bushing (10) and houses the diffuser element (14), and also has a cover (27) fixed, for example, threaded, at the opposite end of the bushing (10), downstream of the diffuser element (14), where the cover (27) has a thermolabile character, so that it degrades with temperature and allows the exit of the extinguishing agent (4) through the hole (24). Preferably, the heat-labile cover (27) has weakened areas (16) that facilitate the degradation of the cover (27). For its part, a second alternative example, illustrated by figure 5B, constitutes a variation of the example illustrated by figure 2, where the duct (15) has been dispensed with, as well as where the diffuser element (14) is housed inside the hole (24).

Finally, in a second example of the second embodiment, see figure 6, an alternative configuration of the common means of reaction and discharge is described, comprising, as a thermolabile element, a tube (28), connected to the opening (9) of the tank (3), and which has a blind free end (25) as the end of the line, to discharge the extinguishing agent (4) by degradation of the tube (28). Optionally, a sectorization element (26) can be included, such as a shut-off valve or a sealing element, to interrupt the flow of extinguishing agent (4), which allows the use of tubes (28) of standard length that, once Once connected to the tank (3) and with the sectorization element (26) closed, so as not to have pressure from the extinguishing agent (4), they can be cut, downstream of the sectorization element (26), and cover the blind free end (25). ), to adapt the length of the tube (28) to the circumstances of the installation.

Claims (31)

1. - Automatic fire extinguishing device (1) for electrical installations, characterized in that it comprises a tank (3) with pressurized extinguishing agent (4), to be released in fire conditions, where the tank (3) comprises at least a flat face (5). 2. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (3) includes six flat faces (5), the tank (3) having a parallelepiped shape. 3. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that it further comprises attachment means (17) to fix the tank (3) to structures (6, 7), including walls, of the electrical installation, the joining means (17) being non-destructive. 4. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 3, characterized in that the joining means (17) are of the form closure type. 5. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 4, characterized in that the joining means (17) are clipped type. 6. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 3-5, characterized in that the joining means (17) form an integral part of the tank (3). 7. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 3-5, characterized in that the joining means (17) are configured to be mounted on the tank (3) and/or on the structures (6, 7 ) of the installation. 8. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 3, 6 and 7, characterized in that the tank (3) and the structures (6, 7) to which the tank (3) is fixed are metallic, where the joining means (17) comprise magnets. 9. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting means (17) also comprise accessories for fixing the magnets to the tank (3) and/or to the structures. 10. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that it additionally includes: - reaction media, which are sensitive to the conditions of a fire, to react when a fire occurs; Y - discharge means, to discharge the extinguishing agent (4) contained in the tank (3). 11. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 10, characterized in that the reaction means and the discharge means are separate. 12. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 11, characterized in that the reaction means comprise one or more sensors (21), as well as the discharge means comprise one or more valves (22), in fluid communication with the agent extinguisher (4) from the tank (3), and commanded to release the extinguishing agent (4) from the tank (3) when a fire is detected based on the information from the sensors (21). 13. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 12, characterized in that the valve(s) do not exceed 5 cm in length. 14. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 12-13, characterized in that the (s) valve (s) are placed in the lower part of the tank (3). 15. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 10, characterized in that the reaction means and the discharge means comprise a common reaction and discharge element (8), which brings together the reaction means and at least part of the discharge means, presenting the common element (8) thermolabile character, as well as being connected to an opening (9) of the tank (3), so that said common element (8) is capable of withstanding the pressure of the tank (3 ), although, due to the effect of temperature, it degrades and allows the discharge of the extinguishing agent (4). 16. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 15, characterized in that the common element (8) comprises a bushing (10), attachable to the opening (9) of the tank (3). 17. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 16, characterized in that the bushing (10) houses a thermolabile cap (13). 18. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 17, characterized in that the plug (13) is arranged closing the opening (9). 19. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 17, characterized in that the cap (13) is configured as a membrane or comprises a membrane. 20. - Extinguishing device (1) according to any of claims 16-19, characterized in that the bushing (10) includes a housing (23) to retain the plug (13). 21. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 16-20, characterized in that the bushing (10) comprises a male thread (11), to be screwed into a female thread (12) of the opening (9 ) of the tank (3). 22. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 15-20, characterized in that it additionally includes a conduit (15) to discharge the extinguishing agent (4) away from the tank (3), and to conduct heat from the focus of the fire to the common element (8). 23. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 15, characterized in that the common element (8) comprises a thermolabile tube (28) connected to the opening (9) of the tank (3), to discharge the extinguishing agent (4 ) due to degradation of the tube (28). 24. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 23, characterized in that the tube (28) additionally has a blind free end (25) as the end of the line. 25. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 24, characterized in that the tube (28) additionally includes a sectorization element (26), to interrupt the flow of extinguishing agent (4). 26. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 15-25, characterized in that the common element (8) is connected to the bottom of the tank (3). 27. - Extinguishing device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the bushing (10) comprises a heat-labile cover (27). 28. Extinguishing device (1), according to claim 27, characterized in that the cover (27) comprises weakened areas (16) to provide a predetermined degradation. 29. - Extinguishing device (1), according to any of claims 15-28, characterized in that it further comprises one or more diffuser elements (14), included in, or connected to, the common element (8), and which are configured to provide discharge of the extinguishing agent (4) according to a predetermined discharge pattern. 30. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claims 16 and 29, characterized in that the diffuser element or elements (14) are housed in the bushing (10). 31. - Extinguishing device (1), according to claims 22 and 29, characterized in that the diffuser element or elements (14) are located at a free end of the duct (15).