NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

Abstract

 Nozzle assembly for a gas extinguishing system, which nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle piece (15), which nozzle piece has a length which is substantially larger than its width, the nozzle piece having a cavity (17) inside, which cavity is open to first longitudinal end of the nozzle piece, and the nozzle piece comprises at the second longitudinal end area a plurality of holes (18) extending from the cavity to the outer surface of the nozzle piece, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a casing (1, 11) arranged around the holes (18) of the nozzle piece (15), which casing comprises substantially closed top and bottom surfaces (2, 3), through one of which surfaces (2) the nozzle piece extends inside the casing arrangement, and at least partially open side surface(s) (4) connecting the top and bottom surfaces, wherein between the enclosed nozzle piece and the outer side surface(s) of the casing is arranged at least one mesh layer (9) and at least two insulation material layers (7, 8), and wherein the insulation material layers (7, 8, 12) are formed from nonwoven scouring pad material with a plastic core. The invention also relates to a gas extinguishing system equipped with this kind of nozzle assembly.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly for a gas extinguishing system, which assembly comprises a nozzle part attached to the pipework of the gas extinguishing system.

[0002] Gas extinguishing systems are used in environments, where water, foam or powder extinguishing system cannot be used, for example because of their lack of effectiveness or because of their use would cause significant damage. These kinds of environments typically include IT and server rooms, archive rooms and document safes, for example.

[0003] Gas extinguishing systems typically comprise a source of the extinguishing gas, where the gas is held typically under high pressure, one or more nozzles for spraying the gas in the defined area, and the required pipework for leading the pressurized gas from its storage to the one or more nozzle. Further, the system also comprises sensors and/or manual triggering arrangement for triggering the gas extinguishing system.

[0004] Gasses used in the gas extinguishing systems typically comprise mixtures of argon or nitrogen, wherein the gas, which is heavier than air, replaces air at the fire thus extinguishing the fire.

[0005] Noise created by the triggering of the gas extinguishing system can be a problem in some application environments, such as data centers containing a plurality of servers of different type, technology and generations. The noise of the gas extinguishing system is caused by the high-pressure gas of the extinguishing system exiting the nozzle(s) with supersonic speed during the triggering moment, wherein the highest noise volume is experienced right after triggering event and after which the noise volume quickly decreases. The momentary noise volume peaks at the triggering are measured to be around 130 dB.

[0006] The present invention aims to decrease the maximum noise volume experienced during triggering of the gas extinguishing systems and thus eliminate the associated problems of the system.

[0007] In the present invention the nozzle of the gas extinguishing system is equipped with a noise damper, which effective removes the high noise volume experienced during the triggering of the gas extinguishing system without significantly hindering the spreading of the extinguishing gas from the nozzle assembly to the surrounding area.

[0008] The nozzle assembly for a gas extinguishing system of the invention comprises a nozzle piece, which nozzle piece has a length which is substantially larger than its width, the nozzle piece having a cavity inside, which cavity is open to first longitudinal end of the nozzle piece, and the nozzle piece comprises at the second longitudinal end area a plurality of holes extending from the cavity to the outer surface of the nozzle piece, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a casing arranged around the holes of the nozzle piece, which casing comprises substantially closed top and bottom surfaces and at least partially open side surface(s) connecting the top and bottom surfaces, wherein between the at least partially enclosed nozzle piece and the outer side surface(s) of the casing is arranged at least one mesh layer and at least two insulation material layers. The mesh layer or mesh layers is/are preferably located between the insulation material layers.

[0009] In the nozzle assembly of the invention the insulation material layers are formed from nonwoven scouring pad material with a plastic core. Examples of this kind of materials include nonwoven scouring pads used for different kinds of cleaning actions both at industry and at households. One known material type of this nonwoven scouring pad material used at industry is abrasive material consisting of a plastic core and a nonwoven fabric base on polyamide, such as Nylon 66, or methyl methacrylate, loaded with abrasive powder, pigmented and binded in a thermosetting resin matrix. This type of material allows the extinguishing gas pass the insulation material at sufficient material flow but still provides sufficient noise reduction without releasing substantially any flammable material particles in the extinguishing gas.

[0010] In an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention in the casing between the at least partially enclosed nozzle piece and the outer side surface(s) is arranged a plurality of mesh layers and insulation material layers, wherein the amount of insulation material layers exceeds the amount of mesh layers by one.

[0011] In an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention the parts forming the casing and the mesh layers contained in the casing are formed from metal. Preferably the metal is acid-resistant steel, such as AISI 316L steel, for example.

[0012] In an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention the at least partially open side surface of the casing arrangement is formed from sheet metal and provided with open slots extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the casing arrangement.

[0013] In an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention the plurality of holes at the second longitudinal end area of the nozzle piece extends radially in relation to the length of the nozzle piece from the cavity to the outer surface of the nozzle piece.

[0014] In an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention the casing, the insulation material layers and the mesh layer(s) are formed substantially axially symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal center axis of the nozzle piece. Further, the outer surface of the nozzle piece located inside the casing is also preferably axially symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal center axis of the nozzle piece.

[0015] The present invention also provides a gas extinguishing system equipped with at least one nozzle assembly of the invention.

[0016] More precisely the features defining a nozzle assembly in accordance with the present invention are presented in claim 1. Dependent claims present advantageous features and embodiments of the invention.

[0017] Exemplifying embodiments of the invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of example and with reference to accompanying drawings, where

Figures 1A-1C show schematically an embodiment of a casing arrangement for a nozzle assembly of the invention,

Figures 2A-2C show schematically an alternative embodiment of a casing for a nozzle assembly of the invention, and

Figure 3 shows schematically a casing arrangement of figures 1A-1C with a nozzle piece in a cross-sectional view.

[0018] Figures 1A-1C shows schematically a casing arrangement 1 for a nozzle assembly of the invention, wherein figure 1A shows the casing arrangement assembled, figure 1B shows cross-sectional view of the casing arrangement, and figure 1C shows exploded view of the casing arrangement.

[0019] The casing arrangement 1 for a nozzle assembly of the invention shown in figures 1A-1C comprises outer casing formed from top and bottom surfaces defined by top part 2 and bottom part 3. The edges of the top part 2 and bottom part 3 are bent perpendicularly to form surfaces against which part 4 forming the side surface of the casing arrangement 1 is set at its respective edge areas. The part 4 connects the substantially parallel top part 2 and bottom part 3.

[0020] In the top part 2, at the center area, is formed an opening 5, through which opening a nozzle piece of a gas extinguishing system (not shown) is inserted at least partially inside the casing arrangement 1. The opening 5 is equipped with part 6 which forms fixing surfaces for fixing the casing arrangement 1 to the nozzle piece. The opening 5 is formed as a hexagonal for providing suitable mating shape for a corresponding hexagonal portion of the nozzle piece setting in the area of the opening when the casing arrangement 1 is fixed to the nozzle.

[0021] The outer casing formed with parts 2, 3 and 4 is substantially rotationally symmetrical in relation, which allows substantially identical distance from the holes of the nozzle to the outer side surface formed with part 4. The part 4 is equipped with openings in the form of slots extending between the top part 2 and the bottom part 3 for allow the extinguishing gas to exit the casing arrangement 1.

[0022] The parts 2, 3 and 4 are in this embodiment formed from an acid-resistant sheet steel, such as AISI 316L.

[0023] Inside the outer casing of the casing arrangement 1 is formed two axially symmetrical insulation material layers 7 and 8 which fill tightly the space between the top part 2 and the bottom part 3. The insulation material layers 7 and 8 are separated from each other with a correspondingly axially symmetrical perforated sheet steel layer 9 extending between top part 2 and the bottom part 3. The layer 9 keeps the insulation material layers 7 and 8 at their position when the high-pressure extinguishing gas is sprayed from the nozzle inside the casing arrangement 1.

[0024] The insulation material layers 7 and 8 are formed from a nonwoven abrasive product for industrial use consisting of a plastic core and a nonwoven fabric base on polyamide, such as Nylon 66, or methyl methacrylate, loaded with abrasive powder, pigmented and binded in a thermosetting resin matrix.

[0025] The casing arrangement 1 is held together with three bolts 10 which extend from the top part 2 through the insulation material layer 7 and bottom part 3. At the ends of the bolts 10 is screwed and tightened nuts 10'. The heads of the bolts 10 are advantageously welded on the top part 2.

[0026] The layer 9 is preferably made of a perforated sheet steel, such as AISI 316L. With the size of the perforation holes a suitable pressure drop can be achieved, wherein large perforation holes decrease the pressure drop and small holes increase it.

[0027] Figures 2A-2C shows schematically an alternative embodiment for a casing arrangement 11 of a nozzle assembly of the invention, wherein figure 2A shows the casing arrangement assembled, figure 2B shows cross-sectional view of the casing arrangement, and figure 2C shows exploded view of the casing arrangement.

[0028] The casing arrangement 11 is otherwise similar in parts to the embodiment on Figures 1A-1C, and the same reference numeral are used for the corresponding parts, but in this embodiment there is an additional insulation material layer 12 provided between the inner insulation material layer 8 and the outer insulation material layer 7, and additional perforated sheet steel layer 13 between insulation material layers 12 and 7, in addition to the perforated sheet steel layer 9.

[0029] In figure 2C is also shown rubber sheet 14, which extends along the inner surfaces of the top part 2 and bottom part 3 on the areas of the perforated steel layers 9 and 13 thus preventing noise creation due to resonation between the layers and the top and bottom part of the outer casing when the extinguishing gas flow is triggered.

[0030] The embodiment shown in figures 2A-2C provides improved noise reduction effect in comparison to the embodiment shown in figures 1A-1C due to the increased insulation material the extinguishing gas must pass.

[0031] Figure 3 shows schematically the casing arrangement 1 of figures 1A-1C installed on a nozzle piece 15 to form an embodiment of the nozzle assembly of the invention.

[0032] The casing arrangement 1 is fixed to the nozzle piece 15 via the upward protruding fixing surfaces of part 6, which fixing surfaces set against hexagonal outer surface section 16 of the nozzle piece 15.

[0033] The nozzle piece 15 has a threaded outer surface on the upper end part, i.e. in the first longitudinal end area, through which it is screwed to the piping of a gas extinguishing system. The cavity 17 located inside the nozzle piece 15 is open at the first longitudinal end of the nozzle piece to allow extinguishing gas to enter the nozzle piece. At the lower end area of the nozzle piece 15, i.e. at the second longitudinal end area there is a plurality of holes 18, four holes in this embodiment, which allow the extinguishing gas to exit the cavity 17 of the nozzle piece inside the casing arrangement for passing through the casing arrangement. In this embodiment the holes 18 extend radially in relation to the longitudinal center axis of the nozzle piece 15 so that the gas is directed towards the insulation material layer 8.

[0034] The specific exemplifying embodiments of the invention shown in figures and discussed above should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the art can amend and modify the embodiments of the invention described in many evident ways within the scope of the attached claims. Thus, the invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. Nozzle assembly for a gas extinguishing system, which nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle piece (15), which nozzle piece has a length which is substantially larger than its width, the nozzle piece having a cavity (17) inside, which cavity is open to first longitudinal end of the nozzle piece, and the nozzle piece comprises at the second longitudinal end area a plurality of holes (18) extending from the cavity to the outer surface of the nozzle piece, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a casing (1, 11) arranged around the holes (18) of the nozzle piece (15), which casing comprises substantially closed top and bottom surfaces (2, 3), through one of which surfaces (2) the nozzle piece extends inside the casing arrangement, and at least partially open side surface(s) (4) connecting the top and bottom surfaces, wherein between the enclosed nozzle piece and the outer side surface(s) of the casing is arranged at least one mesh layer (9) and at least two insulation material layers (7, 8), characterized in that the insulation material layers (7, 8, 12) are formed from nonwoven scouring pad material with a plastic core.

2. Nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein in the casing (11) between the at least partially enclosed nozzle piece (15) and the outer side surface(s) (4) is arranged a plurality of mesh layers (9, 13) and insulation material layers (7, 8, 12), wherein the amount of insulation material layers exceeds the amount of mesh layers by one.

3. Nozzle assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parts (2, 3, 4, 6) forming the casing (1, 11) and the mesh layers (9, 13) contained in the casing are formed from metal, preferably acid-resistant steel.

4. Nozzle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the mesh layers (9, 13) are formed from perforated sheet metal.

5. Nozzle assembly according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the at least partially open side surface (4) of the casing (1, 11) is formed from sheet metal and provided with open slots extending between the top and bottom surfaces (2, 3) of the casing.

6. Nozzle assembly according to any of claims 1-5, wherein in the plurality of holes (18) at the second longitudinal end area of the nozzle piece (15) extends radially in relation to the length of the nozzle piece from the cavity (17) to the outer surface of the nozzle piece.

7. Nozzle assembly according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the casing (1, 11), the insulation material layers (7, 8, 12) and the mesh layer(s) (9, 13) are formed substantially axially symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal center axis of the nozzle piece (15).

8. Gas extinguishing system, characterized that it is equipped with a nozzle assembly according to any of the previous claims.

Drawing