JP7796795B2 - Gas-based fire extinguishing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pipe fitting for unwinding piping and a gas-based fire extinguishing system using the same.

Gas-based fire extinguishing equipment has been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-206397 JP 2011-160953 A

Given the shortage of engineers who install gas fire extinguishing systems and the aging workforce, it would be desirable to make gas fire extinguishing systems easier to install and improve their installability compared to conventional systems.

The present invention includes the following embodiment:

A pipe fitting for a roll-out piping section used in a gas-based fire extinguishing system,
a bellows tube having a tube wall with repeated peaks and valleys;
a reinforcing member wound around the bellows tube,
the bellows tube is flexible,
the valley portion of the bellows tube is a continuous groove extending spirally,
The reinforcing member is wound around the bellows pipe along the valley portion of the bellows pipe.

a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the storage vessel;
an injection head for injecting the extinguishing gas;
a winding piping section provided between the fire extinguishing piping and the injection head,
The unwinding piping section is a gas-based fire extinguishing system having the above-mentioned pipe joint for the unwinding piping section.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a pipe fitting for unwinding piping that can be easily installed, and a gas-based fire extinguishing system that uses the same.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a gas-based fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pipe joint for a winding-out piping section according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view (before assembly) of a pipe fitting for an unwinding pipe section according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view (after assembly) of the pipe joint for the unwinding pipe section according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a bellows tube 510 and a reinforcing member 520. 5A to 5C are schematic side views illustrating an example of a method for assembling a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment. 5A to 5C are schematic side views illustrating an example of a method for assembling a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment. 5A to 5C are schematic side views illustrating an example of a method for assembling a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment. 5A to 5C are schematic side views illustrating an example of a method for assembling a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment.

[Gas-based fire extinguishing equipment 1]
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 according to the embodiment is a gas-based fire extinguishing system having a fire extinguishing piping 30 connected to a storage container 20, a spray head 40 that sprays an extinguishing agent gas, and a winding piping section 50 provided between the fire extinguishing piping 30 and the spray head 40. A detailed description will be given below.

The gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 is a fire extinguishing system that uses a fire extinguishing gas. Examples of fire extinguishing systems other than gas-based fire extinguishing systems include fire extinguishing systems that use water or foam. In the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1, when a fire breaks out within a protected compartment, the container valve of the storage container 20 is opened manually or automatically. Due to the difference in pressure between the storage container 20 and the fire extinguishing piping 30 (pressure within the storage container 20 > pressure within the fire extinguishing piping 30; the spray head 40 is always open, and the pressure within the fire extinguishing piping 30 is equal to or substantially equal to the pressure within the protected compartment), the fire extinguishing gas stored in the storage container 20 is released from the storage container 20 through the fire extinguishing piping 30 and into the protected compartment from the spray head 40. This reduces the oxygen concentration within the protected compartment, thereby extinguishing the fire within the protected compartment.

During the construction of the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1, the storage container 20, fire extinguishing piping 30, unwinding piping section 50, and spray head 40 may each be installed by different contractors at different times. According to this embodiment, the bellows pipe 510 of the unwinding piping pipe fitting 500 is flexible and can be bent (i.e., deformed) into shapes such as those shown in Figures 2A to 2H. This allows even unskilled workers to easily install the unwinding piping section 50 according to the site conditions (such as the layout of building materials and other objects, the size of the installation area, such as the ceiling or behind walls). This prevents delays in the installation of the spray head 40 due to, for example, the inability to secure a skilled worker to install the unwinding piping section 50 after the storage container 20 and fire extinguishing piping 30 have been installed. In other words, even if it is difficult to secure a skilled worker's schedule after the storage container 20 and fire extinguishing piping 30 have been installed, an unskilled worker can install the unwinding piping section 50 and then move on to the phase of installing the spray head 40. For ease of understanding, Figures 2A to 2H also show the spray head 40 in addition to the piping fitting 500.

(protected area)
A protected section is a section to which extinguishing gas is supplied. For example, one room in a building such as a building, power plant, or factory can be one protected section. Also, multiple rooms can be combined to form one protected section. Computer rooms in which electronic devices are installed and electrical rooms in which switchboards and the like are installed are suitable protected sections for the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1. This is because extinguishing a fire with water or foam would cause damage to the electronic devices, switchboards, and the like. There is no particular limit to the number of protected sections in one building.

(Storage container 20)
The storage container 20 is a container for storing the extinguishing agent gas. The storage container 20 includes a cylinder or the like. In this embodiment, the storage container 20 is installed outside the protected area, but the storage container 20 can also be installed inside the protected area.

The capacity of the storage container 20 is preferably a capacity capable of storing 0.3 m to ^{50 m} when the extinguishant gas is filled in the storage container 20 as a gas, and is preferably a capacity capable of storing 0.65 kg to 100 kg when the extinguishant gas is filled in the storage container 20 as a liquid. When the extinguishant gas is stored in the storage container 20 as a liquid, for example, it is in a liquid state or a gas-liquid mixture state in the fire extinguishing piping 30 and becomes completely gaseous when it is released from the spray head 40 into the protected compartment. The pressure inside the storage container 20 is higher than the pressure inside the protected compartment, and is, for example, 0.2 MPa to 30 MPa. It is preferable that these volumes and pressures are set so that 100% or 90% or more of the total amount of extinguishing gas required to extinguish a fire in a protected compartment (the total amount to be released is specified by laws and regulations, etc.) is released within 10 seconds or more and 3 minutes or less from the start of release of the extinguishing gas, preferably 1 minute or 2 minutes.

The storage container 20 is equipped with a container valve. The container valve is opened manually or automatically in the event of a fire within the protected area. If the container valve is opened automatically, a heat-detecting sensor or the like can be installed within the protected area, and the container valve can be opened based on a signal from this sensor.

The number of storage containers 20 may be one, or two or more. Figure 1 illustrates three storage containers 20. If multiple storage containers 20 are installed, the container valves of all of the multiple storage containers 20 may be opened, or at least one or more of the container valves may be opened depending on the scale of the fire, etc.

(Fire extinguishing piping 30)
The fire extinguishing piping 30 is a piping that is connected to the storage container 20 and supplies the extinguishing agent gas. The fire extinguishing piping 30 can be arranged, for example, in the ceiling or behind the wall, or can also be arranged inside the room.

Any type of gas that can be used for fire extinguishing can be used as the extinguishing gas. For example, halide gases and inert gases (inert gases) are examples of extinguishing gases. Examples of inert gases that can be used include nitrogen gas and argon gas. Nitrogen gas, in particular, is preferred as an extinguishing gas because it has little adverse effect on the human body.

The fire extinguishing piping 30 is connected to the container valve of the storage container 20. The fire extinguishing piping 30 may be directly connected to the container valve, or indirectly connected via another component such as a connecting pipe. A direct connection means that no other component (e.g., a valve) is present between the storage container 20 and the fire extinguishing piping 30, while an indirect connection means that another component is present. The manner in which the fire extinguishing piping 30 is connected to the container valve includes both such direct and indirect connections.

When multiple storage containers 20 are installed, the fire extinguishing piping 30 can be connected to the container valves of all of the multiple storage containers 20. The fire extinguishing piping 30 is an empty piping under normal circumstances. In other words, the fire extinguishing piping 30 is connected to the internal space of the protected compartment, and under normal circumstances, air, not extinguishing agent gas, is present inside the fire extinguishing piping 30.

The fire extinguishing piping 30 may include, for example, one or more stainless steel pipes. When the fire extinguishing piping 30 includes multiple stainless steel pipes, these multiple stainless steel pipes can be connected using one or more fittings. In this case, the fittings may be made of a metal other than stainless steel, such as copper or brass, or may be made of stainless steel. When the fittings are made of stainless steel, a gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 can be provided that is easier to install and more corrosion-resistant than when the fittings are not made of stainless steel. Methods for connecting the fittings and stainless steel pipes include screws, welding, flange connections, and housing connections.

(Ejection head 40)
The spray head 40 is a device that sprays (i.e., releases) the extinguishing agent gas. The spray head 40 is connected to the fire extinguishing piping 30 via the unwinding piping section 50. The spray head 40 is, for example, an open type and is always open. The spray head 40 can be installed in various locations that can release the extinguishing agent gas into the protected area, such as a ceiling or a wall. The spray head 40 can be a spray head installed on the ceiling surface, a spray head for lateral spraying that is installed on a wall, or a silent spray head. The shape and size of the spray head 40 are not particularly limited. The number of spray heads 40 installed is at least one, and it is preferable that the number be such that the extinguishing agent gas can be uniformly and quickly dispersed throughout the entire protected area.

(Unwinding piping section 50)
The unwinding piping section 50 is provided between the fire extinguishing piping 30 and the injection head 40. The unwinding piping fitting 500 is a component included in the unwinding piping section 50. The unwinding piping section 50 may be composed of only one unwinding piping fitting 500, or may include components other than the unwinding piping fitting 500, or may include multiple unwinding piping fittings 500. Examples of components other than the unwinding piping fitting 500 included in the unwinding piping section 50 include at least one of other piping, other unwinding piping fittings having a configuration similar to the unwinding piping fitting 500 according to the embodiment, and fittings such as elbows, sockets, and tees. If the unwinding piping section 50 includes these components, the mountable area of the unwinding piping section 50 can be expanded.

(Unwinding piping joint 500)
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view (before assembly) of a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a schematic side view (after assembly) of the pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section according to an embodiment. In Figs. 3 and 4, for ease of understanding, portions of each component are depicted transparently as appropriate, allowing the components covered by those components to be seen. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section 500 according to an embodiment is a pipe fitting for a unwinding piping section used in a gas-based fire extinguishing system 1, and includes a bellows pipe 510 having a pipe wall with alternating peaks and valleys, and a reinforcing member 520 wound around the bellows pipe 510. The bellows pipe 510 is flexible, the valleys of the bellows pipe 510 are continuous grooves extending spirally, and the reinforcing member 520 is wound around the bellows pipe 510 along the valleys of the bellows pipe 510. The pipe joint 500 for the unwinding pipe section (bellows pipe 510) is flexible and can be bent into various shapes as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2H.

In addition to the bellows tube 510 and reinforcing member 520 described above, the pipe fitting 500 for unwinding piping according to this embodiment may also include an extension suppression member 530 that covers the outer surface of the bellows tube 510 and suppresses extension of the bellows tube 510, a first jig fixing ring 542 provided on one end of the bellows tube 510, a second jig fixing ring 544 provided on the other end of the bellows tube 510, a cylindrical hollow member 550 connected to one end of the bellows tube 510, a nut 560 rotatably attached to the hollow member 550, a first attachment member 572 that threads onto the nut 560, and a second attachment member 574 joined to the second jig fixing ring 544. These are described in detail below.

(Bellows tube 510)
The bellows pipe 510 is a hollow member. The bellows pipe 510 is sometimes called a tube. The extinguishing agent gas supplied from the fire extinguishing piping 30 passes through the bellows pipe 510 (the hollow portion). The bellows pipe 510 can be manufactured, for example, by bending (or rolling or winding) a metal plate into a tubular (cylindrical) shape to form a cylindrical pipe, and then using a device such as a die to form a shape in which peaks and valleys are repeated on the pipe wall of the cylindrical pipe. Examples of materials that can be used for the bellows pipe 510 include stainless steel, and more specifically, alloy steel containing chromium and nickel. When such alloy steel is used, the chromium content of the bellows pipe 510 is, for example, 18% or more of the total weight of the bellows pipe 510.

The pipe wall of the bellows pipe 510 has a shape with repeated peaks and valleys. These peaks and valleys are sometimes called "pleats," or convex portions and concave portions. The bellows pipe 510 may expand due to the pressure of the extinguishing agent gas passing through the bellows pipe 510, but in this embodiment, expansion of the bellows pipe 510 is suppressed by the expansion suppression member 530, which will be described later.

The bellows pipe 510 is flexible. This allows the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500, and ultimately the unwinding piping section 50, to be bent while flexibly adapting to obstacles between the fire extinguishing piping 30 and the spray head 40, the distance between the fire extinguishing piping 30 and the spray head 40, and other factors at the site where the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 is being installed. This allows even unskilled workers to easily connect or join the fire extinguishing piping 30 and the spray head 40 with the unwinding piping section 50 according to the site conditions where the unwinding piping section 50 is being installed. In other words, the unwinding piping section 50 can be constructed by bending the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 according to the site conditions, without the need to measure the site dimensions for each site condition, cut the piping according to the measured dimensions, or form threads on the cut piping. Obstacles and distances may vary depending on the site where the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 is installed, but because the bellows pipe 510 is flexible, even an unskilled worker can connect or link the injection head 40 and fire extinguishing piping 30 according to the various conditions at the site.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the bellows tube 510 and the reinforcing member 520. The arrows in Figure 5 are used to illustrate the spiral extension. As shown in Figure 5, the valleys of the bellows tube 510 are continuous grooves extending in a spiral. Reinforcing member 520, described below, is wound around the bellows tube 510 along the valleys of the bellows tube 510. If the wall of the bellows tube 510 has multiple independent valleys, it is necessary to provide multiple independent reinforcing members 520 for each valley and secure each reinforcing member 520 to each valley of the bellows tube 510. However, according to this embodiment, the reinforcing member 520 is inserted into the continuous groove extending in a spiral and the bellows tube 510 is compressed, allowing the reinforcing member 520 to be easily sandwiched within the valleys (i.e., within the recesses that form the valleys) and tightly secured to the valleys.

The wall thickness T1 of the bellows tube 510 is preferably 0.5 mm or less, and more preferably 0.35 mm or less, so as not to impair the flexibility of the bellows tube 510. On the other hand, the wall thickness T1 of the bellows tube 510 is preferably 0.2 mm or more, and more preferably 0.25 mm or more, so as to provide the bellows tube 510 with pressure resistance. Generally, the wall thickness T1 of the bellows tube 510 is increased to meet the required pressure resistance, but within the above numerical range (even at the upper limit of 0.5 mm), there is a risk that the bellows tube 510 will not be able to meet the pressure resistance required for gas fire extinguishing. However, if the wall thickness T1 of the bellows tube 510 is increased beyond the upper limit of the above numerical range (0.5 mm), there is a risk that the flexibility of the bellows tube 510 will be impaired. Therefore, in this embodiment, a reinforcing member 520 is provided in the valley portion of the bellows tube 510, thereby achieving both flexibility and pressure resistance for the bellows tube 510.

The diameter (inner diameter) of the bellows pipe 510 is preferably larger than the diameter (inner diameter) of the fire extinguishing piping 30 and/or the diameter (inner diameter) of the injection head 40. This has the effect of reducing pressure loss when the extinguishing agent gas is released at high flow rates.

(Reinforcing member 520)
The reinforcing member 520 is a member that is wrapped around the bellows tube 510 to reinforce the pressure resistance of the bellows tube 510, and is provided in the valley portion of the bellows tube 510. The provision of such a reinforcing member 520 prevents loss of flexibility due to disorder of the bellows tube 510 (deformation of the shape of the peaks and valleys (the shape of the pleats) of the bellows tube 510 due to elongation, etc.) caused by a pressure increase when the extinguishing agent gas passes through, and improves the pressure resistance. As described above, in order to provide flexibility to the bellows tube 510, it is effective to keep the wall thickness T1 of the bellows tube 510 to a level that does not impair the flexibility of the bellows tube 510. However, doing so makes it impossible to provide the bellows tube 510 with sufficient pressure resistance. In general, in the case of gas fire extinguishing, the pressure inside the piping is greater than in the case of water or foam fire extinguishing, and therefore the bellows tube 510 needs to have a greater pressure resistance than in the case of water or foam fire extinguishing. Therefore, in this embodiment, by wrapping reinforcing member 520 around bellows tube 510, sufficient pressure resistance is imparted to bellows tube 510 while providing it with appropriate flexibility. The maximum operating pressure of bellows tube 510 when reinforcing member 520 is wrapped around it is preferably, for example, 2 MPa or more and 10.8 MPa or less, and more preferably 3.8 MPa or more and 10.8 MPa or less.

The reinforcing member 520 is preferably sandwiched between the valleys of the bellows tube 510. That is, it is held between the inner walls of the valleys (recesses). The holding by the valleys can be achieved, for example, by providing the reinforcing member 520 in the valleys and then compressing the bellows tube 510 (i.e., compressing the bellows tube 510 so that the longitudinal length of the bellows tube 510 is shortened). When the bellows tube 510 is compressed, the width P of the valleys of the bellows tube 510 becomes substantially equal to the width of the reinforcing member 520. In this way, the reinforcing member 520 is tightly fitted to the valleys of the bellows tube 510, allowing the reinforcing member 520 to be installed in a predetermined position (for example, the reinforcing member 520 can be positioned so that it does not protrude more than necessary from the valleys of the bellows tube 510). This makes it possible to prevent the substantial outer diameter of the bellows tube 510 from expanding (i.e., the outer diameter of the bellows tube 510 determined by considering the wound reinforcing member 520 as part of the bellows tube 510 and including the wire diameter of the reinforcing member 520). In other words, winding the reinforcing member 520 does not increase the outer diameter of the bellows tube 510 itself, but it does prevent the bellows tube 510 from becoming bulging in the circumferential direction due to the wire diameter of the reinforcing member 520. It also makes it possible to prevent deformation of the bellows tube 510 due to the pressure when extinguishing agent gas passes through the unwinding piping fitting 500 (specifically, the bellows tube 510).

As described above, when the valleys of the bellows tube 510 are independent, it is necessary to provide multiple independent reinforcing members 520 for each valley and secure each to the corresponding valley of the bellows tube 510. However, according to this embodiment, one reinforcing member 520 can be inserted into a continuous groove formed by multiple valleys connected in a spiral shape, and the bellows tube 510 can be compressed to secure the reinforcing member to the valley. Inserting two or more reinforcing members 520 into a continuous groove formed by multiple valleys can further improve pressure resistance. However, increasing the number of reinforcing members 520 more than necessary impairs the flexibility of the bellows tube 510. Therefore, it is preferable to wrap the reinforcing members 520 around the bellows tube 510 in a number that does not impair the flexibility of the bellows tube 510. In this embodiment, one reinforcing member 520 is wrapped around the bellows tube 510.

It is preferable to use wire or metal wire with a circular cross section for the reinforcing member 520, and in particular, wire or metal wire made of a material with strength and corrosion resistance equal to or greater than that of the bellows tube 510. If the bellows tube 510 is made of stainless steel, for example, the wire or metal wire can also be made of stainless steel.

As described above, each reinforcing member 520 is made of a linear member such as a wire or metal wire, and therefore the reinforcing member 520 can be called a "reinforcing wire."

(Expansion suppression member 530)
The extension suppression member 530 covers the outer surface of the bellows tube 510 and suppresses the extension of the bellows tube 510. The extension suppression member 530 is sometimes called a braid. The bellows tube 510 has the property of expanding longitudinally when internal pressure is applied and then returning to a straight pipe. If the shape of the peaks and valleys (the shape of the pleats) of the bellows tube 510 becomes distorted, the inherent flexibility of the bellows tube 510 is lost. The extension suppression member 530 is, for example, braided into a cylindrical shape and covers the outer periphery of the bellows tube 510 so as to fit closely to the bellows tube 510. The extension suppression member 530 is fixed (e.g., firmly fixed) to both ends of the bellows tube 510 by welding, crimping, crimping, or a combination of one or more of these methods. In other words, by fixing one end of the extension suppressing member 530 to one end of the bellows tube 510, and the other end of the extension suppressing member 530 to the other end of the bellows tube 510 in the above-described manner, it is possible to suppress extension of the bellows tube 510. The extension suppressing member 530 can be made, for example, by weaving stainless steel wire or strip material and ordinary steel wire.

(First jig fixing ring 542, second jig fixing ring 544)
The first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 are portions to which a jig (a jig for attaching the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 to a construction material or the like) is fixed. In other words, by fixing a jig to the first jig fixing ring 542 or the second jig fixing ring 544 and then fixing this fixed jig to a construction material or the like at the construction site of the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500, the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 can be fixed at the construction site. The first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 are sometimes called braid holding rings because they are provided to hold down one end or the other end of the extension suppression member 530 (braid). The first jig fixing ring 542 is provided on one end side (fire extinguishing piping 30 side) of the bellows pipe 510. The second jig fixing ring 544 is provided on the other end side (the ejection head 40 side) of the bellows tube 510. The first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 are hollow members. The bellows tube 510 and the extension suppression member 530 that covers the outer surface of the bellows tube 510 are inserted into the hollow portions.

The first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 can be fixed to the outer surface of the elongation suppression member 530 by, for example, welding, crimping, crimping, or a combination of one or more of these methods. The outer shapes of the first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 may be, for example, cylindrical or polygonal prism-shaped, but are not particularly limited thereto.

During a fire, the reaction force (radiation reaction force) generated when the extinguishing gas is released can cause the bellows pipe 510 to move wildly, resulting in an unstable position of the spray head 40. To prevent this movement, a jig is required to firmly secure the bellows pipe 510 to building materials at the construction site. The reaction force generated when the extinguishing gas is released is much greater than that of typical water-based fire extinguishing equipment, so the fixing jig is also large and requires specialized hardware. Therefore, considering the use of various jigs, it is preferable that the first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 are both longer than those used for water or foam extinguishing. Specifically, the length is preferably between two and ten times that of water or foam extinguishing. More specifically, the length of the first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544 is preferably between 50 mm and 200 mm.

(Hollow member 550, nut 560)
The hollow member 550 is a cylindrical member. The hollow member 550 is fixed to the end of the bellows tube 510 by welding, adhesive, or other methods. The boundary between the hollow member 550 and the bellows tube 510 may or may not be covered by the first jig fixing ring 542 and the second jig fixing ring 544.

A hollow member 550 is connected to one end of the bellows pipe 510 (specific example of connection: joining by welding or the like), and a nut 560 is inserted into the hollow member 550. The hollow member 550 is sometimes referred to as a sleeve. The hollow member 550 has a protrusion X, and the nut 560 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member 550 between the first jig fixing ring 542 and this protrusion X (D). In other words, the nut 560 can be moved left and right in FIG. 4 between the first jig fixing ring 542 and the protrusion X (D). As such, in this embodiment, the first mounting member 572 (the mounting member on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side) is not joined (welded, etc.) to the bellows pipe 510, but rather the nut 560 is provided between the bellows pipe 510 and the first mounting member 572.

The nut 560 is rotatably attached to the hollow member 550. As a result, when attaching the first attachment member 572 to the fire extinguishing piping 30 (or a member connected to the fire extinguishing piping 30, such as a fitting, such as an elbow, socket, or tee; hereinafter, the fire extinguishing piping 30 or a member connected to the fire extinguishing piping 30 will be referred to as the "fire extinguishing piping 30, etc."), the first attachment member 572 can be connected or coupled to the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 (bellows pipe 510) simply by rotating the nut 560, without rotating the entire unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the nut 560 be attached to the hollow member 550 so that it can tilt in addition to being rotatable (i.e., rotatable and tiltable). Specifically, it is preferable that a gap Q (play) be provided between the opening of the nut 560 and the outer surface of the hollow member 550 so that the nut 560 can be tilted slightly. In this way, even if the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like is tilted, the first mounting member 572 can be attached to the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like in accordance with the tilt (angle) of the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like, and the nut 560 can be attached to the first mounting member 572 in accordance with the tilt (angle) of this first mounting member 572. If the nut 560 can be tilted slightly, even if the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like is slightly tilted, the first mounting member 572 can be attached to the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like in accordance with the tilt (angle) of the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like, and then the nut 560 can be tilted and the first mounting member 572 can be attached to the nut 560 without tilting the entire pipe fitting 500 for the unwinding piping section (particularly the bellows pipe 510).

The nut 560 has a threaded inner surface, for example. This threaded groove engages with a threaded groove provided on the outer surface of the first mounting member 572. In this embodiment, the nut 560 and hollow member 550 are provided only on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side, but the nut 560 and hollow member 550 can also be provided on the spray head 40 side. In this case, the nut 560 and hollow member 550 on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side are referred to as the first nut and first hollow member, and the nut and hollow member on the spray head 40 side are referred to as the second nut and second hollow member. The second hollow member is connected to the other end of the bellows pipe (specific example of connection: joining by welding, etc.). The second nut and second hollow member have the same structure and function as the nut 560 and hollow member 550 on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side.

It is preferable to use a cap nut, for example, for the nut 560.

(First mounting member 572, second mounting member 574)
The first mounting member 572 (mounting member on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side) is a member for mounting the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 to the fire extinguishing piping 30, etc. The second mounting member 574 (mounting member on the jet head 40 side) is a member for mounting the unwinding piping section pipe fitting 500 to the jet head 40 (or a member connected to the jet head 40, such as a fitting, e.g., elbow, socket, or tee. Hereinafter, the jet head 40 or a member connected to the jet head 40 will be referred to as the "jet head 40, etc."). Examples of mounting methods include screwing, fitting, or a combination of these. When mounting by screwing, a thread groove is provided on, for example, the inner surface of the first mounting member 572 or the second mounting member 574.

If the unwinding piping fitting 500 has the above-mentioned nut 560 (first nut) on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side, the first attachment member 572 is attached by threading onto the first nut. If the unwinding piping fitting 500 has a second nut on the injection head 40 side that has the same configuration and function as the above-mentioned nut 560, the second attachment member 574 is attached by threading onto the second nut. If the unwinding piping fitting 500 has the above-mentioned nut 560 (first nut) only on the fire extinguishing piping 30 side and does not have a (second nut) on the injection head 40 side that has the same configuration and function as the above-mentioned nut 560, the second attachment member 574 is joined to the bellows pipe 510 by welding or the like.

The distance L between the end of the first mounting member 572 and the end of the second mounting member 574 is preferably 2000 mm or less. In this way, when the pipe fitting 500 for the unwinding piping section according to the embodiment is used as a horizontal pipe, there is no need to support the pipe fitting 500 for the unwinding piping section.

The first mounting member 572 is sometimes called an adapter. The second mounting member 574 is sometimes called a nipple when it is joined to the bellows tube 510 by welding or the like, and when it is attached to the second nut by threading, it is sometimes called an adapter, just like the first mounting member 572. When the second mounting member 574 functions as a nipple, it is a member that is joined to the bellows tube 510 by welding or the like, and is connected to the injection head or the like by a threaded connection. When the second mounting member 574 and the bellows tube 510 are joined by welding or the like, the bellows tube 510 is rotated to connect the second mounting member 574 to the injection head 40 or the like.

With the pipe fitting 500 for the unwinding piping section described above, the flexibility of the bellows pipe 510 allows even unskilled workers to install the unwinding piping section 50 according to the conditions at the installation site of the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1. Furthermore, at least one reinforcing member 520 (a number sufficient to not impair the flexibility of the bellows pipe 510) is wrapped around the bellows pipe 510 so as to follow the valley portion of the bellows pipe 510, thereby ensuring the pressure resistance of the bellows pipe 510 while providing flexibility. Therefore, it is possible to provide a pipe fitting 500 for the unwinding piping section that is easy to install while ensuring pressure resistance, and a gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 that uses the same.

In this embodiment, the nut 560 and the first mounting member 572 are connected by parallel threads, allowing for easy connection and disconnection. The nut 560 is loosely fitted to the hollow member 550 in advance, allowing for free rotation and movement back and forth. The hollow member 550 sleeve is joined to the bellows pipe 510 by welding or other means. When connecting to the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like, only the first mounting member 572 can be removed from the nut 560 and connected to the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like. When connecting the first mounting member 572 to the bellows pipe 510, the nut 560 integrated with the bellows pipe 510 is placed against the first mounting member 572 connected to the fire extinguishing piping 30 or the like, and the connection can be made simply by rotating the nut 560. Unlike when connecting the second mounting member 574 to the spray head 40 or the like, there is no need to rotate the bellows pipe 510, which has the advantage of making the process easier.

In order to accurately install the injection head 40 into the hole in the ceiling board, the unwinding piping for the gas-based fire extinguishing system 1 requires combining multiple steel pipes and fittings such as elbows, adjusting the position, and screwing in multiple times. However, aligning the unwinding piping requires skilled techniques, and cutting out the pipe to the exact dimensions is time-consuming, placing a burden on the installer. Furthermore, earthquake-resistant ceiling construction is required to ensure rapid business recovery even in the event of an unforeseen event such as an earthquake. As described in this embodiment, the unwinding piping includes a flexible bellows pipe 510, which simplifies construction and reduces time, as the screwing in of multiple steel pipes can be completed in a single operation. While water fire extinguishing has already been put to practical use, the operating pressure required for gas fire extinguishing is higher than that of water. For this reason, flexible pipes with reduced flexibility have been required. However, according to the embodiment, by providing a reinforcing member 520 in the valley portion of the flexible bellows pipe 510, it is possible to provide a gas fire extinguishing system unwinding piping that is both pressure-resistant and flexible. Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the gas fire extinguishing system unwinding piping section 50, which is equipped with the flexible bellows pipe 510, can absorb the phase shift that occurs when vibrations such as those caused by an earthquake occur between the fire extinguishing piping 30 fixed to the compartment and the injection head 40 fixed to the ceiling substrate. This improves the earthquake resistance of the ceiling.

[Method of assembling a pipe joint for a winding piping section according to an embodiment]
6A to 6D are schematic side views illustrating an example of a method for assembling a pipe fitting for an unwinding pipe section according to an embodiment. In Fig. 6A to Fig. 6D, for ease of understanding, portions of each component are depicted transparently as appropriate, allowing components covered by those components to be seen. Hereinafter, a method for assembling a pipe fitting for an unwinding pipe section according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6A to Fig. 6D.

First, as shown in Figure 6A, the reinforcing member 520 is wrapped around the bellows tube 510 and the pitch is compressed.

Next, as shown in Figure 6B, the extension suppression member 530, the first jig fixing ring 542, and the second jig fixing ring 544 are fixed to the bellows tube 510.

Next, as shown in Figure 6C, the hollow member 550 with the nut 560 inserted is fixed to the first jig fixing ring 542. Also, the second mounting member 574 is fixed to the second jig fixing ring 544.

Next, as shown in Figure 6D, the first mounting member 572 is threaded onto the nut 560.

The above describes embodiments of the present invention, but these descriptions are merely examples of the present invention and the present invention is not limited in any way by these descriptions.

1 Gas-based fire extinguishing equipment 20 Storage container 30 Fire extinguishing piping 40 Injection head 50 Unwinding piping section 500 Pipe joint for unwinding piping section 510 Bellows pipe 520 Reinforcing member 530 Extension suppression member 542 First jig fixing ring 544 Second jig fixing ring 550 Hollow member 560 Nut 572 First mounting member 574 Second mounting member X Convex portion L of hollow member 550 Distance P between the end of the first mounting member 572 and the end of the second mounting member 574 Spacing T1 between the valleys of the bellows pipe 510 Wall thickness of the bellows pipe 510

Claims (9)

a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the storage vessel;
A gas-based fire extinguishing system having an injection head installed in a protected compartment for injecting a fire extinguishing agent gas,
A flexible unwinding piping section is provided between the fire extinguishing piping and the injection head,
The unwinding piping section has a pipe joint for the unwinding piping section,
The pipe joint for the unwinding piping section is
a bellows tube having a tube wall with repeated peaks and valleys;
a reinforcing member wound around the bellows tube,
the bellows tube is flexible,
the valley portion of the bellows tube is a continuous groove extending spirally,
the reinforcing member is wound around the bellows tube along a valley portion of the bellows tube,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system, wherein the bellows pipe is made of stainless steel. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to claim 1,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system in which the extinguishing gas is a halide gas or an inert gas. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The stainless steel is an alloy steel containing chromium and nickel. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to claim 3 ,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system, wherein the chromium content of the bellows pipe is 18% or more of the total weight of the bellows pipe. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The gas-based fire extinguishing system, wherein the reinforcing member is sandwiched in the valley portion of the bellows pipe so that the reinforcing member is tightly fixed to the valley portion of the bellows pipe. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system, wherein the reinforcing member is a wire having a circular cross section. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The reinforcing member is a metal wire. The gas-based fire extinguishing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system in which the wall thickness of the bellows pipe is 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. A gas-based fire extinguishing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
A gas-based fire extinguishing system in which the maximum working pressure of the bellows pipe is 2 MPa or more and 10.8 MPa or less when the reinforcing member is wrapped around it.