Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
Apparatus comprising a system for circulating an aqueous heat transfer fluid from an equipment station, into heat transfer relationship with at least one heat transfer unit and through a conduit which returns the fluid back to the equipment station, a plurality of sprinkler heads, and means operatively connecting the sprinkler heads to receive heat transfer fluid from the circulating system, the improvement wherein the connecting means for the sprinkler heads is connected to the circulating system between a heat transfer unit and the return conduit with no heat transfer unit between said connection and the return conduit, means providing parallel flow paths between said connection and the return conduit, a first check valve in one of said parallel flow paths, said check valve being effective to prevent fluid flow from the return conduit toward said connection, a flow sensor and a second check valve in the other of said parallel flow paths, said second check valve being effective to prevent flow from said connection toward the return conduit, makeup means operatively connected to introduce water into the return conduit, means responsive to a changed condition in the circulating system which changed condition indicates that fluid id flowing from the system and effective in response to the changed condition to activate said makeup means to introduce water into the return conduit whereby, when the apparatus is operating normally, the fluid flows from said connection through said first check valve to the return conduit while, when the apparatus is in a fire mode, fluid flows from the return conduit through said second check valve and said flow sensor to said connection, and then from the system, and a signal from the flow sensor can be used to indicate the location of the fluid flow from the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
Apparatus comprising a system for circulating an aqueous heat transfer fluid from an equipment station, into heat transfer relationship with at least one heat transfer unit and through a conduit which returns the fluid back to the equipment station, a plurality of sprinkler heads, and means operatively connecting the sprinkler heads to receive heat transfer fluid from the circulating system, the improvement wherein the connecting means for the sprinkler heads is connected to the circulating system between a heat transfer unit and the return conduit with no heat transfer unit between said connection and the return conduit, means providing parallel flow paths between said connection and the return conduit, a first check valve in one of said parallel flow paths, said check valve being effective to prevent fluid flow from the return conduit toward said connection, a flow sensor and a second check valve in the other of said parallel flow paths, said second check valve being effective to prevent flow from said connection toward the return conduit, makeup means operatively connected to introduce water into the return conduit, means responsive to a changed condition in the circulating system which changed condition indicates that fluid id flowing from the system and effective in response to the changed condition to activate said makeup means to introduce water into the return conduit whereby, when the apparatus is operating normally, the fluid flows from said connection through said first check valve to the return conduit while, when the apparatus is in a fire mode, fluid flows from the return conduit through said second check valve and said flow sensor to said connection, and then from the system, and a signal from the flow sensor can be used to indicate the location of the fluid flow from the system.