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EP 0 649 326 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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01.04.1998 Bulletin 1998/14 |
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Date of filing: 02.07.1993 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/FI9300/282 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9401/179 (20.01.1994 Gazette 1994/03) |
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INSTALLATION FOR FIGHTING FIRE
FEUERBEKÄMPFUNGSEINRICHTUNG
INSTALLATION DE LUTTE CONTRE L'INCENDIE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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Priority: |
03.07.1992 FI 923092
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Date of publication of application: |
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26.04.1995 Bulletin 1995/17 |
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Proprietor: SUNDHOLM, Göran |
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04310 Tuusula (FI) |
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Inventor: |
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- SUNDHOLM, Göran
04310 Tuusula (FI)
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Representative: Jenkins, Peter David et al |
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PAGE WHITE & FARRER
54 Doughty Street London WC1N 2LS London WC1N 2LS (GB) |
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References cited: :
WO-A-85/00182 US-A- 4 786 239
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US-A- 3 898 805
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a hydraulic system for a unit, such as a ship.
[0002] In many ships a number of important regular functions are performed by means of a
hydraulic system for which oil has been used as the drive medium. In those known ships
a separate installation has been used for fighting fire.
[0003] US-A-4786239 discloses a pumping system for shipboard use comprising a submersible
centrifugal pump driven by a high pressure hydraulic motor mounted directly on the
submersible pump. The hydraulic motor is connected by a hose to a hydraulic pump which
is located on deck and driven by a standby fire pump.
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic system for a unit which
can also be used for fighting fire.
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a hydraulic system for a unit, the hydraulic
system being to drive hydraulic functions and including a drive medium, a power source
for driving the drive medium, and at least one line for conducting the drive medium
through the hydraulic system; characterized in that the drive medium is water and
in that the hydraulic system further includes sprinklers or spray heads connected
to the power source, the sprinklers or spray heads utilizing the water of the hydraulic
system as a fire-extinguishing medium.
[0006] It will of course be understood that the water employed in the system of the present
invention can include certain additives, for example anti-corrosion additives. The
power source of the hydraulic system is preferably a hydraulic pump having a high
operating pressure and a high volume capacity. The pump is usually driven by a main
power source, such as an electric generator.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment at least some of the sprinklers or spray heads are connected
to a pressure line of the hydraulic system.
[0008] Some of the sprinklers or spray heads can be connected to a return line of the hydraulic
system, the return line being arranged to be closed downstream of the last sprinkler
or spray head when the hydraulic system is activated.
[0009] Use of the present invention means that double pipe systems and double power sources
are not necessary since the same system can be utilized for fire fighting as well
as for performing the regular hydraulic functions. In addition to considerable savings
in installation hardware and installation work, a significant reduction in weight
is also achieved; this being of particular advantage in high-speed ships.
[0010] In some cases it may be of advantage to connect at least some of the sprinklers or
spray heads to the power source through at least one further line separate from the
at least one line of the hydraulic system.
[0011] In such an embodiment the subsidiary lines can be utilized for performing certain
additional functions essential when a fire has broken out, such as closing fire doors,
driving elevators, etc.. If the regular main power source, usually an electric generator,
fails in a fire, an emergency generator, often having less power than the regular
generator, can be capable of providing sufficient power for fighting the fire and
for performing at least a limited number of additional important functions. The main
lines can then if necessary be disconnected.
[0012] The inventive concept can generally be considered to be that the same system is utilized
for fire fighting in addition to other regular hydraulic functions.
[0013] Hydraulic systems in ships and the like generally have a high operating pressure,
for example 100 bar or more. The use of sprinklers or spray heads disclosed in International
patent application nos. PCT/FI92/00060 and PCT/FI92/00155 (publication nos. WO92/15370
and WO92/20453) is recommended. Those sprinklers and spray heads capable of operating
at a high pressure provide effective fire extinguishing with small amounts of water
and can be made to produce concentrated fog-like sprays having a good penetration
power.
[0014] The installation of such sprinklers or spray heads in a hydraulic system is considered
to fall within the normal skill of a person skilled in the art and is therefore not
described in detail in the present patent application.
[0015] In an oil tanker the hydraulic system of the present invention can be utilized for
spraying a fog of water droplets, having a typical diameter size of from 30 to 150
microns, into the oil tanks for fire extinguishing and cooling, respectively.
[0016] Although the invention is principally intended to be used in ships and other comparable
units, the invention can also be employed in other units of which steel plants and
mines are examples.
1. A hydraulic system for a unit, the hydraulic system being to drive hydraulic functions
and including a drive medium, a power source for driving the drive medium, and at
least one line for conducting the drive medium through the hydraulic system; characterized
in that the drive medium is water and in that the hydraulic system further includes
sprinklers or spray heads connected to the power source, the sprinklers or spray heads
utilizing the water of the hydraulic system as a fire-extinguishing medium.
2. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the sprinklers
or spray heads are connected to a pressure line of the hydraulic system.
3. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the sprinklers
or spray heads are connected to a return line of the hydraulic system, the return
line being arranged to be closed downstream of the last sprinkler or spray head when
the hydraulic system is activated.
4. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the sprinklers
or spray heads are connected to the power source through at least one further line
separate from the at least one line of the hydraulic system.
5. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one further line
is configured to provide a number of functions in the event of a fire, such as closing
fire doors.
6. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source has an operating
pressure of at least 100 bar.
7. The hydraulic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the power source comprises a high
pressure and high volume pump.
1. Hydrauliksystem für eine Einheit, wobei das Hydrauliksystem Hydraulikfunktionen erbringen
soll und ein Antriebsmedium enthält, mit einer Antriebsquelle zum Antreiben des Antriebsmediums
und mit wenigstens einer Leitung, um das Antriebsmedium durch das Hydrauliksystem
zu leiten, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Antriebsmedium Wasser ist und dass das
Hydrauliksystem außerdem Sprinkler oder Sprühköpfe umfasst, die mit der Antriebsquelle
verbunden sind und die Sprinkler oder Sprühköpfe das Wasser des Hydrauliksystems als
Brandlöschmedium verwenden.
2. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 1, bei dem wenigstens einige der Sprinkler oder Sprühköpfe
an eine Druckleitung des Hydrauliksystems angeschlossen sind.
3. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 2, bei dem wenigstens einige der Sprinkler oder Sprühköpfe
an eine Rückleitung des Hydrauliksystems angeschlossen sind, wobei die Rückleitung
so gestaltet ist, dass sie stromabwärts des letzten Sprinklers oder Sprühkopfes zu
schließen ist, wenn das Hydrauliksystem aktiviert ist.
4. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 1, bei dem wenigstens einige der Sprinkler oder Sprühköpfe
an die Antriebsquelle über wenigstens eine weitere Leitung angeschlossen sind, die
von der wenigstens einen Leitung des Hydrauliksystems getrennt ist.
5. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 4, bei dem die wenigstens eine weitere Leitung so gestaltet
ist, dass sie im Brandfalle eine Reihe von Funktionen erbringt, wie z.B. das Schließen
von Brandtüren.
6. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Antriebsquelle einen Betriebsdruck von
wenigstens 100 bar aufweist.
7. Hydrauliksystem nach Anspruch 6, bei dem die Antriebsquelle eine Pumpe mit hohem Druck
und großem Fördervolumen aufweist.
1. Système hydraulique pour une unité, le système hydraulique étant destiné à entraîner
des fonctions hydrauliques et comprenant un fluide moteur, une source de puissance
pour entraîner le fluide moteur, et au moins une ligne pour conduire le fluide moteur
à travers le système hydraulique, caractérisé en ce que le fluide moteur est de l'eau,
et en ce que le système hydraulique inclut en outre des sprinklers ou des têtes de
pulvérisation connectés à la source de puissance, les sprinklers ou les têtes de pulvérisation
utilisant l'eau du système hydraulique comme agent d'extinction anti-incendie.
2. Système hydraulique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins certains des sprinklers
et ou des têtes de pulvérisation sont connectés à une ligne de pression du système
hydraulique.
3. Système hydraulique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel au moins certains des sprinklers
ou des têtes de pulvérisation sont connectés à une ligne de retour du système hydraulique,
la ligne de retour étant agencée pour être fermée en aval du dernier sprinkler ou
de la dernière tête de pulvérisation lorsque le système hydraulique est active.
4. Système hydraulique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins certains des sprinklers
ou des têtes de pulvérisation sont connectés à la source de puissance via au moins
une autre ligne séparée de ladite au moins une ligne du système hydraulique.
5. Système hydraulique selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ladite au moins une autre
ligne est configurée de manière à assurer un certain nombre de fonctions dans le cas
d'un incendie, comme la fermeture des portes anti-incendie.
6. Système hydraulique selon la indication 1, dans laquelle la source de puissance a
une pression de fonctionnement d'au moins 100 bar.
7. Système hydraulique selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la source de puissance comprend
une pompe à haute pression et à volume élevé.