Electrically operated gas vent for fire protection sprinkler systems

Abstract

An automatic electrical gas vent, method and resulting fire protection sprinkler system, is useful with a water source and at least one sprinkler. The at least one sprinkler is connected with the water source by a piping network. An automatic electrical gas vent is adapted to be connected with the piping network to discharge gas from said piping network. The automatic electrical gas vent includes an electrically operated valve that is electrically actuatable to discharge from said piping network and a sensor. The sensor senses the presence of gas at a portion of the piping network and causes actuation of the valve to discharge from the piping network in the absence of a conductive liquid.

1 . A fire protection sprinkler system, comprising:
 a water source and at least one sprinkler, said at least one sprinkler being connected with said water source by a piping network; and   an automatic a gas vent that is connected with said piping network and adapted to discharge gas from said piping network, wherein said automatic gas vent comprises an electrically operated valve that is electrically actuatable to discharge from said piping network and a sensor, said sensor comprising a liquid sensor that is adapted to sense the presence of liquid at a portion of said piping network and to cause actuation of said valve to discharge from said piping network in the absence of liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sensor is adapted to cause withholding of actuation of said valve in the presence of a liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said electrically operated valve is adapted to close in the absence of electrical actuation. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  including a pressure-operated valve in air communication with said vent, wherein said vent discharges gas only above a particular pressure across said pressure-operated valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said pressure-operated valve comprises a pressure relief valve or a check valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 4  including an audible indicator that indicates discharge from said pressure-operated valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  including a redundant gas vent that is adapted to vent gas and retain liquid upon non-operation of said gas vent. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  including an electrical control, said electrical control responsive to said sensor and to electrically actuate said electrically operated valve to discharge as a function of electrical conductivity of said sensor. 
     
     
         11 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  including an inert gas source connectable with said piping network. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said inert gas source comprises a nitrogen generator. 
     
     
         18 . An automatic gas vent assembly that is adapted to be connected with a fire protection sprinkler system piping network that is selectively supplied with water from a water source, said gas vent being adapted to discharge gas from said piping network, wherein said gas vent comprises:
 an electrically operated valve that is electrically actuatable to discharge and a sensor, said sensor adapted to sense the presence of liquid and to cause actuation of said valve to discharge in the absence of liquid.   
     
     
         19 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said sensor is adapted to cause withholding of actuation of said valve in the presence of a liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said electrically operated valve is adapted to close in the absence of electrical actuation. 
     
     
         21 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 18  including a pressure-operated valve in air communication with said vent, wherein said vent discharges gas only above a particular pressure across said pressure-operated valve. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 18  including a redundant gas vent that is adapted to vent gas and retain liquid upon non-operation of said gas vent. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 18  including an electrical control, said electrical control responsive to said sensor and to electrically actuate said electrically operated valve to discharge in response to said sensor sensing the presence of gas. 
     
     
         28 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said electrical control does not electrically actuate said electrically operated valve in response to said sensor sensing the presence of liquid. 
     
     
         29 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said electrically operated valve is adapted to not discharge if said electrical control does not receive electrical power. 
     
     
         30 . The automatic gas vent assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said control includes at least one indicator that is adapted to provide an indication of whether said valve is being electrically actuated. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of substantially avoiding oxygen-based corrosion in a fire protection sprinkler system having a water source and at least one sprinkler, said at least one suspect connected with said water source by a piping network and a gas vent connected with said piping network to selectively discharge gas and not water from said piping network, said method comprising:
 wherein said gas vent comprises an automatic gas vent assembly having an electrically operated valve that is electrically actuatable to discharge from said piping network and a sensor, said sensor adapted to sense the presence of liquid at a portion of said piping network;   causing actuation of said valve to discharge from said piping network when said sensor does not sense the presence of liquid; and   withholding actuation of said valve to not discharge from said piping network when said sensor senses the presence of liquid.