Fire protection system and nozzlevalve assembly therefor

Claim 1

FOR A FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM A NOZZLE-VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (I) A NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING: (A) A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY WITH: (1) AN INLET OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF, (2) A DISCHARGE OPENING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, (B) A FLOW PASSAGE WHICH: (1) EXTENDS THROUGH SAID BODY, (2) EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID INLET AND DISCHARGE OPENINGS, (C) A SEATING PORTION WHICH: (1) IS ON SAID BODY ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, (2) SURROUNDS SAID FLOW PASSAGE, (II) A VALVE MEMBER WHICH: (A) IS MOVABLE ALONG A PATH BETWEEN VALVECLOSED AND VALVE-OPEN POSITIONS, (B) EXTENDS ACROSS SAID NOZZLE MEMBER PASSAGE AND SEALINGLY ENGAGES SAID NOZZLE MEMBER SEATING PORTION IN THE VALVE-CLOSED POSITION, (C) IS REMOVED FROM SAID NOZZLE MEMBER PASSAGE AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOZZLE MEMBER SEATING PORTION IN THE VALVE-OPEN POSITION, (III) MEANS WHICH: (A) ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH SAID NOZZLE MEMBER AND SAID VALVE MEMBER, (B) PROVIDE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID VALVE MEMBER ALONG SAID PATH TO VARY THE FORCE EXERTED BY SAID VALVE MEMBER ON SAID SEATING PORTION, (C) INCLUDE MEANS WHICH ARE RUPTURABLE BY A PREDETERMINED FORCE EXERTED ON SAID VALVE MEMBER ALONG SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT, FOR HOLDING SAID VALVE MEMBER IN THE VALVE-CLOSED POSITION, (IV) AN EXPLOSIVE MEMBER WHICH: (A) IN THE VALVE-CLOSED POSITION IS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF SAID VALVE MEMBER REMOTE FROM THE VALVE-OPEN POSITION OF SAID MEMBER, (B) WHEN EXPLODED EXERTS SAID PREDETERMINED FORCE ON SAID VALVE MEMBER AND THERETHROUGH ON SAID RUPTURABLE MEANS, (V) MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID EXPLOSIVE MEMBER FOR CONDUCTING ENERGY TO SAID EXPLOSIVE MEMBER TO EXPLODE SAID EXPLOSIVE MEMBER.