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Title: Combination air conditioning and fire protection system for a building
Claims: It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: 1. A combination air conditioning and fire protection system for a building comprising: a heat exchanger through which fluid may be passed under pressure, said heat exchanger having a fluid inlet and a fluit outlet; fluid temperature conditioning means spaced from said heat exchanger for bringing fluid to a preselected temperature, fluid supply conduit means operatively connected to said conditioning means for carrying fluid under pressure from said conditioning means toward said heat exchanger, fluid return conduit means operatively connected to said conditioning means through which fluid under pressure may be conveyed from the heat exchanger to the conditioning means, discharge means mounted on said fluid supply and return conduit means operable to discharge fluid therefrom within said building in case of fire, first connecting conduit means operatively connecting the supply conduit means to the inlet of the heat exchanger, second connecting conduit means operatively connecting the return conduit means to the outlet of the heat exchanger, check valve means in said connecting conduit means permitting flow of fluid therethrough in a direction from said supply conduit toward said return conduit and inhibiting fluid flow in the opposite direction, and flow control means operable continuously to control the rate of fluid flow from said supply conduit to said return conduit as it passes through said heat exchanger for maintaining sufficient pressure in said supply conduit means to produce proper fluid discharge from said discharge means on said supply conduit means in the event of loss of pressure in said return conduit means or connecting conduit means downstream from said flow control means. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said discharge means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, normally closed fluid discharge heads mounted on said supply and return conduit means and fire sensing means connected to said discharge heads operable to open a discharge head upon sensing a fire. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said supply conduit means comprises a riser and an elongate, substantially horizontal conduit connected adjacent one of its ends thereto, said return conduit means comprises a riser and an elongate substantially horizontal conduit connected adjacent one of its ends thereto, said horizontal conduits extending over regions of said building to be protected by said system with said discharge means mounted thereon, and said first and second connecting conduits are connected to the horizontal conduits of said supply and return conduit means respectively, with the flow of fluid from said supply conduit means to said return conduit means being through said heat exchanger. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said conditioning means and said heat exchanger are spaced apart vertically and at least one of said conduit means comprises a fluid-tight structural column constructed to provide structural support for the building and having a fluid passage extending vertically therethrough, and wherein said system further comprises means for circulating fluid under pressure through said conduit means including said column. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of said conduit means further comprises an elongate, substantially horizontal conduit connected to and extending between said column and said heat exchanger and said discharge means comprises a plurality of normally closed discharge heads spaced apart along said conduit. 6. The system of claim 5, which further comprises fire sensing means connected to said discharge heads operable to detect a fire in the vicinity of a discharge head and to open the same upon sensing a fire. Other info: Inventors: Carroll, John L. (Portland, OR, US) Application Number: 464340 Filing Date: 1974-04-26 Publication_date: 1976-02-24 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 169/16 169/20 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Love, John J. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Kolisch, Hartwell, Dickinson & Stuart |
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