(19)
(11) EP 0 649 326 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
01.04.1998 Bulletin 1998/14

(21) Application number: 93914756.7

(22) Date of filing: 02.07.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6A62C 3/10, A62C 35/00
(86) International application number:
PCT/FI9300/282
(87) International publication number:
WO 9401/179 (20.01.1994 Gazette 1994/03)

(54)

INSTALLATION FOR FIGHTING FIRE

FEUERBEKÄMPFUNGSEINRICHTUNG

INSTALLATION DE LUTTE CONTRE L'INCENDIE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 03.07.1992 FI 923092

(43) Date of publication of application:
26.04.1995 Bulletin 1995/17

(73) Proprietor: SUNDHOLM, Göran
04310 Tuusula (FI)

(72) Inventor:
  • SUNDHOLM, Göran
    04310 Tuusula (FI)

(74) Representative: Jenkins, Peter David et al
PAGE WHITE & FARRER 54 Doughty Street
London WC1N 2LS
London WC1N 2LS (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-85/00182
US-A- 4 786 239
US-A- 3 898 805
   
       
    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).


    Description


    [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.


    Claims

    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.
     


    Ansprüche

    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.
     


    Revendications

    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.