Valve for fire suppression

Abstract

A pressure-driven fire-suppression valve wherein a single electrical switch is mechanically actuated by coaxially related first and second sealed piston components, which are compliantly loaded in the direction away from switch actuation. The first piston component is of lesser area and has its switch-actuating relation via abutment with the second (larger-area) piston component; this first piston component continuously responds to suppressant-charge pressure, via a pressure-fluid connection to the upstream valve chamber, i.e., to the upstream side of the closed position of the valve member (poppet). As long as this upstream-sensed pressure is above predetermined threshold, the compliant-load force will be overcome, and the switch will be mechanically actuated, but upon leakage below threshold, the mechanical actuation is released, for a change of state at the switch. The downstream side of the second piston component is of relative large area and is continuously exposed via a pressure-fluid connection to the downstream chamber of the valve; normally, the downstream chamber is at ambient atmospheric pressure, but upon suppressant-gas discharge, the downstream-chamber pressure is transiently elevated, enabling the second piston component to transiently add to the compliant-loading force and thus rapidly to terminate the actuated state of the switch.