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Easy-maintenance valve for fire fighting systems
The invention relates to a valve for pipelines of fire
fighting systems, with a supply line for extinguishing fluid
loaded by excess pressure, with a drain line for the
extinguishing fluid, with locking means arranged between the
supply line and the drain line, and with an actuating means
operating the locking means for adjusting the locking means in
an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the rest
state, the locking means are in the closed position and
wherein, in the case of a fire, the actuating means adjust the
locking means from the closed position into the open position
in such a way that extinguishing fluid flows from the supply
line into the drain line.
Pipelines of fire fighting systems are already regularly
loaded in the rest state with extinguishing fluid. These so-
called wet systems are distinguished in that extinguishing
fluid is permanently stored in the pipelines and, in the case
of a fire, the extinguishing fluid is rapidly present at the
sprinklers or extinguishing spray nozzles.
In order to prevent extinguishing fluid discharging in the
rest state from the pipeline system, a shut-off valve is
arranged prior to extinguishing spray nozzles and on branches
in the pipeline systems respectively. This valve prevents
extinguishing fluid being directly present at the
extinguishing spray nozzles. In the case of a fire, the valves
of the remotely controlled servomotors are opened so
extinguishing fluid discharges from the extinguishing spray
nozzles.

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To detect leakages, the extinguishing fluid is permanently
held at a low standby pressure in the rest state. This
pressure is generally about 20 bar. In the case of a fire, the
fluid pressure is sharply increased, so that, for example, the
finest spray can be atomised at the extinguishing spray
nozzles.
In order to ensure that the valves also function in the case
of a fire, they have to be maintained at regular intervals. To
maintain the valves, they are activated. Ball valves are
rotated in this case, for example by at least 90°.
Incrustations, foreign bodies that have been introduced,
swollen seals, damaged seals, corrosions and further causes
for the valves becoming stuck are thereby discovered. The
valves becoming stuck or other malfunctions of the valves must
be determined early in order to be able to ensure reliable
operation in the case of a fire.
During conventional maintenance work, the valves are regularly
opened. For this purpose, a maintenance technician operates a
shut-off valve with a lateral outlet. A test valve is manually
opened and extinguishing fluid discharges via the lateral
outlet. Thereafter, the valves are manually returned to their
original position. The maintenance leads to extinguishing
fluid regularly having to be reintroduced into the pipeline
and the rest pressure having to be regulated again. The
discharge of extinguishing fluid during maintenance work may
also be disadvantageous if moisture-sensitive items are stored
in the secured spaces.
Because of these disadvantages, the invention was based on the
object of providing a valve for pipelines of fire fighting

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systems, in which a stuck state can be recognised without the
extinguishing fluid discharging from the pipeline.
In particular, it is possible to maintain the locking means by
means of remote maintenance, in which the monitoring is
arranged spatially separately from the valves. Above all, in
tunnels of several kilometres in length, it is sensible to
control the maintenance of the valves centrally, so that it is
not necessary for a maintenance technician to manually check
all the locking means individually.
The object derived above from the prior art, is achieved
according to the invention in that the locking means are
formed in such a way that, during a maintenance operation, the
locking means can be adjusted from their closed position by
means of the actuating means in such a way that, during
maintenance operation, no extinguishing fluid flows from the
supply line into the drain line.
It has been recognised that the locking means becoming stuck
can be determined in that the locking means are adjusted
during maintenance by means of the actuating means. In order
to prevent the discharge of extinguishing fluid during this
adjustment process during a maintenance operation, the locking
means are provided in such a way that they do not allow any
fluid communication between the supply line and drain line
during the maintenance operation. By applying a starting
torque when adjusting the actuating means during the
maintenance operation, slight encrustations and corrosions are
broken up. The valves are fully capable of functioning again
thereafter.

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It is particularly preferred if the locking means are formed
from a ball valve, the ball valve having a maintenance
position between the open position and the closed position.
The ball valve may, for example, be formed as a 3/2-way ball
valve. In this case, an opening of the valve body may be
closed. In a 3/2-way ball valve with a closed opening, the
ball itself may be rotated by means of the actuating means by
about 180°, without extinguishing fluid arriving from the
supply line in a drain line.
In the case of a 3/2-way ball valve, the valve body may be
designed such that the outlet bore connected to the valve
entry is closed in the case of a 90° rotation of the ball. The
ball of the ball valve may have any bore patterns which allow
the ball valve to be brought into a maintenance position
between the open position and the closed position without
extinguishing fluid arriving from the supply line into the
drain line.
The ball of a ball valve becoming stuck is then determined
easily, in particular when the ball valve during maintenance
operation can be adjusted by the actuating means by at least
50°, preferably at least 90°. An adjustment of the ball valve
by at least 50° allows a stuck state to be reliably detected.
Slight encrustations can be broken up and the capacity of the
ball valve to function can remain ensured.
The ball patterns in the ball of the ball valve may preferably
be designed such that an angle between an inlet opening and an
outlet opening of the ball valve is between 5° and 175°,
preferably 90°. The arrangement of openings in the valve body
and bores in the ball of the ball valve may be such that they

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allow an adjustment of the ball valve by at least 50°, without
extinguishing fluid discharging.
It is also particularly preferred if the locking means
comprise a bursting disc and a shut-off valve. The bursting
disc is designed such that it does not burst until there is an
increase in the resting pressure. This takes place in the case
of a fire, for example. The shut-off valve prevents
extinguishing fluid discharging from the extinguishing spray
nozzles in the event of unintended destruction of the bursting
disc. The bursting disc together with the shut-off valve forms
a double security against leakages.
It is also particularly preferred if the shut-off valve is a
ball valve or a solenoid valve.
It is particularly preferred if the bursting disc is arranged
between the supply line and shut-off valve in such a way that
the shut-off valve is dry in the rest state. In this case, the
bursting disc is arranged in such a way that it reliably seals
the shut-off valve in the rest state from the supply line. The
shut-off valve can be adjusted in this case for maintenance
work without extinguishing fluid discharging. The
extinguishing fluid is held in the supply line by the bursting
disc. Only in the case of a fire does the bursting disc burst
and the actuating means adjust the shut-off valve in an open
position, so a fire can be reliably fought.
It is also particularly preferred if the bursting disc is
arranged between the shut-off valve and drain line in such a
way that the shut-off valve is loaded with extinguishing fluid
in the rest state. In this case, the shut-off valve prevents

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the bursting disc being inadvertently destroyed by too high a
resting pressure. In the case of a fire, the bursting disc
bursts after the shut-off valve has been opened as an
increased fluid pressure prevails. In the case of maintenance,
the shut-off valve can be easily opened by the actuating
means. The bursting disc withstands the resting pressure
without destruction. Extinguishing fluid does not discharge
from the extinguishing spray nozzles as it is held back by the
bursting disc.
It is also preferred if the actuating means are operated
hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically. Such actuating
means may, for example, be electrically operated servomotors.
The position of the actuating means can be determined by means
of sensors. These sensors may be, for example, end position
switches and maintenance position switches. These switches
monitor the control of the locking means. The sensors may also
control the working region of the actuating means. The sensors
allow remote maintenance of the locking means by means of
remote control of the motors and monitoring of the motor
function or the position of the actuating means.
Further advantages emerge from the subordinate claims.
The invention will be described in more detail below with the
aid of drawings showing embodiments. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 shows a fire fighting system for extinguishing a fire
in a schematic view;
Fig. 2 shows a variant of a system according to Fig. 1;

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Fig. 3 shows a valve with a bursting disc according to a first
embodiment;
Fig. 4 shows a valve with a bursting disc according to a
second embodiment;
Fig. 5a shows a valve with a ball valve in a closed position;
Fig. 5b shows a valve with a ball valve in a maintenance
position;
Fig. 5c shows a valve with a ball valve in an open position.
The device 1 for extinguishing a fire comprises an
extinguishing fluid supply 2, which comprises fluid
containers, not shown in detail, and a high pressure pump.
Alternatively, the extinguishing fluid supply 2 may also be
equipped with one or more accumulators, in which extinguishing
fluid is stored under pressure. Furthermore, the extinguishing
fluid may be stored under ambient pressure and only loaded
with pressure in the case of activation from one or more
accumulators. The extinguishing fluid supply 2 is controlled
by a control device 3, which receives the fire alarm signal of
a fire detector 4.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, extinguishing nozzles
10, 11, 12 are connected to the extinguishing fluid supply 2
via a main supply line 6 and respective separate supply lines
7, 8, 9 branching from the main supply line 6.

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In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, a first group 13 of
three extinguishing nozzles 14 is connected by means of a
branch piece 15 to a supply line 17 coming from a main supply
line 16. Furthermore, a single extinguishing nozzle 18 is
connected directly to a supply line 19, which also comes from
the main supply line 16. In a third group 20 of three
extinguishing nozzles 21, the extinguishing nozzles 21 are
finely connected by means of intermediate lines 22 and a
branch piece 23 to a third supply line 24 coming from the main
supply line 16.
The extinguishing nozzles 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 21, may comprise
open nozzle inserts, which are connected to an inflow bore of
the extinguishing nozzle via channels formed in the respective
extinguishing nozzle. The nozzle inserts, on loading with an
extinguishing fluid at a high pressure of up to 300 bar,
generate a finely distributed extinguishing spray.
Fig. 3 shows a valve 50 according to a first advantageous
embodiment. Via the supply line 7, extinguishing fluid at a
resting pressure of about 20 bar is present at the supply line
32 of the valve 50. The valve 50 comprises a bursting disc 30,
a supply line 32, a drain line 34, a shut-off valve 36, an
actuating means 38 and sensors 40.
The extinguishing fluid is held in the supply line 7 by the
bursting disc 30. It seals the valve 50, in particular the
shut-off valve 36 with respect to the extinguishing fluid. In
the rest state, the shut-off valve 36 is dry. For maintenance,
the position of the shut-off valve 36 can be changed by means
of the actuating means 38. For example, the shut-off valve 36
may be formed by a solenoid valve, which has an open and a

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closed position. The actuating means 38 may be remotely
controlled.
By means of the actuating means 38, a switch can be made back
and forth between the open position and the closed position.
The position of the actuating means 38 is detected by the
sensors 40. The actuating means 38 are adjusted from the
position shown over the sensor 40a, during maintenance, into a
position over the sensor 40b by means of an auxiliary drive
(not shown) . The sensor 40b detects the adjustment of the
actuating means 38 and signals this to a control device, so
the adjustment is stopped. The actuating means 38 are then set
back into the shown position via the auxiliary drive. The
sensor 40a detects that this position has been reached.
Encrustations and corrosions in the locking means 36 are
determined by adjustment in the maintenance interval.
In the case of a fire, the fluid pressure is increased and
this leads to the bursting disc 30 bursting. In addition, the
shut-off valve 36 is adjusted in an open position by means of
the actuating means 38, so extinguishing fluid can flow from
the supply line 32 into the drain line 34 and a fire can be
fought.
Fig. 4 shows a further configuration of a valve 50 according
to the invention. The bursting disc 30 is arranged here behind
the shut-off valve 36. The shut-off valve 36 is loaded with
extinguishing fluid in the rest state. The adjustment of the
actuating means 38 from the closed position into the open
position means that extinguishing fluid is present in the
drain line 34 at the bursting disc 30. The bursting disc 30

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seals the drain line 34 from the further pipeline so no
extinguishing fluid can discharge.
In the case of a fire, the actuating means 38 are adjusted
such that the shut-off valve 36 is in an open position. The
extinguishing fluid is applied at elevated pressure on the
bursting disc 30, so the latter bursts and the fighting of a
fire can take place.
Fig. 5a shows a ball valve 44 in a schematic view. The ball
valve 44 comprises a ball 46 with a through-flow channel 48.
The ball 46 is adjusted by means of actuating means (not
shown) . The position of the ball 46 is detected by means of
sensors (not shown) . In the positions shown in Fig. 5a, the
ball 46 is in a closed position. The through-flow channel 48
of the ball 46 is such that it does not communicate with the
supply line 32 or with the drain line 34.
During maintenance, the ball 46 is rotated into the position
shown in Fig. 5b. The supply line 32 communicates here with
the through-flow channel 48. Extinguishing fluid can, however,
not flow into the drain line 34, as no direct connection
exists between the supply line 32 and drain line 34. The ball
valve 44 seals the supply line 32 from the drain line 34. By
rotating the ball 46 of the ball valve 44 by 90°, it can be
established whether the ball 46 is stuck.
By regularly adjusting the ball 46 from the position shown in
Fig. 5a into the position shown in Fig. 5b, a stuck state of
the ball 46 can be determined. In the case of a stuck state,
the valve 50 can be replaced.

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As the functioning of the ball valve 44 is regularly
monitored, in the event of a fire, the ball 46 can be rotated
without impairment into the position shown in Fig. 5c. In this
case, a direct connection is ensured between the supply line
32 and drain line 34 by the through-flow channel 48.
Extinguishing fluid can flow directly through the through-flow
channel 48 into the drain line 34 and a fire can be
effectively fought.

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Claims
1. Valve for pipelines of fire fighting systems (1),
with a supply line (32) for extinguishing fluid
loaded by excess pressure,
with a drain line (34) for the extinguishing fluid,
with locking means (36, 46) arranged between the
supply line (32) and the drain line (34), and
with an actuating means (38) operating the locking
means (36, 46) for adjusting the locking means (36,
46) in an open position and a closed position,
wherein, in the rest state, the locking means (36,
46) are in the closed position and wherein, in the
case of a fire, the actuating means (38) adjust the
locking means (36, 46) from the closed position into
the open position in such a way that extinguishing
fluid flows from the supply line (32) into the drain
line (34),
characterised in that
the locking means (36, 46) are formed in such a way
that in a maintenance operation, the locking means
(36, 46) can be adjusted from their closed position
by means of the actuating means (38) in such a way
that, during maintenance operation, no extinguishing
fluid flows from the supply line (38) into the drain
line (34) .
2. Valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the
locking means (36, 46) are formed from a ball valve (46),
the ball valve (46) having a maintenance position between
the open position and the closed position.

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3. Valve according to claim 2, characterised in that the
ball valve (46) can be adjusted during maintenance
operation by the actuating means (38) from the closed
position into the maintenance position.
4. Valve according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that
the ball valve (46) can be adjusted during maintenance
operation by the actuating means (38) by at least 50°,
preferably at least 90°.
5. Valve according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
characterised in that an angle between an inlet opening
and an outlet opening of the ball valve (46) is between
5° and 175°, preferably 90°.
6. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterised in that the locking means (36, 46) comprise
a bursting disc (30) and a shut-off valve (36).
7. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterised in that the shut-off valve (36) is a ball
valve (46) or a solenoid valve (36).
8. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterised in that the bursting disc (30) is arranged
between the supply line (32) and shut-off valve (36) in
such a way that the shut-off valve (36) is dry in the
rest state.
9. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
characterised in that in the case of fire, the fluid

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pressure is increased in such a way that the bursting
disc (30) bursts.
10. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that the bursting disc (30) is arranged
between the shut-off valve (36) and drain line (34) in
such a way that the shut-off valve (36) is loaded with
extinguishing fluid in the rest state.
11. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
characterised in that the actuating means (38) are
operated hydraulically, pneumatically and/or
electrically.
12. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
characterised in that the actuating means (38) comprises
a servomotor.
13. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
characterised in that sensors (40) determining the
position of the actuating means (38) are provided.

The invention relates to a valve for pipelines of fire fighting systems, with a supply line (32) for extinguishing fluid loaded by excess pressure, with a drain line (34) for the extinguishing fluid, with locking means (36, 46) arranged between the supply line (32) and the drain line (34), and with an actuating means (38) operating the locking means (36, 46)
for setting the locking means (36, 46) in an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the rest state, the locking means (36, 46) are in the closed position and wherein, in the
case of a fire, the actuating means (38) adjust the locking means (36, 46) from the closed position into the open position
in such a way that extinguishing fluid flows from the supply line (32) into the drain line (34). In order to be able to carry out maintenance operations without the loss of
extinguishing fluid it is proposed that the locking means (36, 46) are formed in such a way that, by means of the actuating means (38), in a maintenance operation, the locking means (36,
46) can be adjusted from their closed position in such a way that, during maintenance operation, no extinguishing fluid
flows from the supply line (38) into drain line (34).