US3684025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive sprinkler head
Assignee: Factory Mutual Research Corp
•
Filing: 1971-07-26
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A sprinkler head for fixed fire extinguishing systems of the type in which a fluid extinguishant is supplied under line pressure to a plurality of such heads, in which the actuation of the head in response to fire is inhibited when line pressure drops below a predetermined magnitude, thereby to preserve the ability of already actuated heads in the system to disperse extinguishant on a fire. In one embodiment, a movable heat shield is employed together with line pressure responsive means for controlling the position of the heat shield with respect to the sprinkler head fuse. In another embodiment, a pressure responsive valve is employed to permit passage of extinguishant through a bleed conduit directly to the fuse thereby to effect cooling thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Livingston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:57
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C37/00; A62C37/08; A62C37/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
In a extinguishant dispersing head for fixed fire extinguishing systems of the type in which a fluid extinguishant is supplied under line pressure to a plurality of such heads, the combination comprising: means defining an inlet adapted to be placed in direct fluid communication with line pressure and an outlet for dispersing extinguishant, releasable means normally blocking fluid passage between said inlet and said outlet, fire sensing means operable upon the existence of a fire to release said means normally blocking fluid passage between said inlet and said outlet, and means responsive to line pressure at said inlet to inhibit operation of said sensing means when line pressure at said inlet falls below a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a extinguishant dispersing head for fixed fire extinguishing systems of the type in which a fluid extinguishant is supplied under line pressure to a plurality of such heads, the combination comprising: means defining an inlet adapted to be placed in direct fluid communication with line pressure and an outlet for dispersing extinguishant, releasable means normally blocking fluid passage between said inlet and said outlet, fire sensing means operable upon the existence of a fire to release said means normally blocking fluid passage between said inlet and said outlet, and means responsive to line pressure at said inlet to inhibit operation of said sensing means when line pressure at said inlet falls below a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said fire sensing means comprises a thermal fuse to release said blocking means at predetermined ambient temperatures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus recited in claim 2 in which said means responsive to line pressure comprises a heat shield movable between a first position in which said fuse is exposed fully to ambient temperatures, and a second position in which said fuse is shielded thereby from increases in ambient temperature, and means to move said shield from said first position to said second position when pressure at said inlet drops below said predetermined magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus recited in claim 3 in which said means to move said shield comprises a flexible diaphragm, spring means biasing said diaphragm in a direction to move said heat shield to said second position and means communicating one side of said diaphragm with said inlet pressure to oppose a bias of said spring means and retain said shield in said first position as a consequence of said inlet pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus recited in Claim 2 wherein said means responsive to line pressure comprises a fluid conduit to direct line fluid against said fuse, and valve means to prevent passage of fluid through said conduit when pressure at said inlet is above said predetermined magnitude, said valve means being movable when pressure at said inlet falls below said predetermined magnitude to pass line fluid through said conduit and against said fuse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 5 in which said conduit is formed of malleable material to enable adjustable positioning of the outlet end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said inlet defining means includes a tubular adaptor, said conduit and said valve means being mounted on said adaptor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for controlling the release temperature of a thermal fuse on a sprinkler head for fixed fire extinguishing systems of the type in which a fluid extinguishant under pressure is supplied by pipes to a plurality of such heads, said device comprising: actuating means movable from a first position to a second position in response to line pressure at the sprinkler head falling below a predetermined magnitude and means operably associated with said actuating means for inhibiting the effect of ambient temperature on said fuse upon movement of said actuating means to said second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for controlling the release temperature of a thermal fuse on a sprinkler head for fixed fire extinguishing systems of the type in which a fluid extinguishant under pressure is supplied by pipes to a plurality of such heads, said device comprising: actuating means movable from a first position to a second position in response to line pressure at the sprinkler head falling below a predetermined magnitude and means operably associated with said actuating means for inhibiting the effect of ambient temperature on said fuse upon movement of said actuating means to said second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means includes a heat shield movable to a position to shield said fuse from increases in ambient temperature upon movement of said actuating means to said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a bleed conduit for directing extinguishant against said fuse, and wherein said actuating means comprises a pressure responsive valve which opens said bleed conduit upon movement of said valve from said first position to said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10 including a tubular adaptor for connection between the sprinkler head and the pipes of the fire extinguishing system, said bleed conduit and said valve being mounted in said adaptor, and said bleed conduit being deformable to adjust the discharge end thereof with respect to the fuse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fire protection system comprising at least one extinguishant discharge head mounted in an elevated position in the space to be protected, means for supplying an extinguishant under line pressure to said head, releasable means normally preventing the discharge of extinguishant from said head, fire sensing means operable upon the existence of a fire to release said releasable means, and means responsive to a predetermined condition of said system to inhibit operation of said sensing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fire protection system comprising at least one extinguishant discharge head mounted in an elevated position in the space to be protected, means for supplying an extinguishant under line pressure to said head, releasable means normally preventing the discharge of extinguishant from said head, fire sensing means operable upon the existence of a fire to release said releasable means, and means responsive to a predetermined condition of said system to inhibit operation of said sensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system recited in claim 12 wherein said fire sensing means comprises a thermal fuse to release said releasable means at predetermined ambient temperatures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system recited in claim 13 in which said means to inhibit operation of said sensing means comprises a heat shield movable between a first position in which said fuse is exposed fully to ambient temperatures, and a second position in which said fuse is shielded thereby from increases in ambient temperature, and means to move said shield from said first position to said second position in response to said predetermined condition of said system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system recited in claim 14 in which said means to move said shield comprises a flexible diaphragm, spring means biasing said diaphragm in a direction to move said heat shield to said second position, and means communicating one side of said diaphragm with said extinguishant to oppose the bias of said spring means and retain said shield in said first position as a consequence of said inlet pressure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system recited in claim 13 wherein said predetermined condition of said system is a predetermined extinguishant pressure at said head and wherein said means to inhibit operation of said sensing means comprises a fluid conduit to direct line fluid against said fuse, anD valve means to prevent passage of fluid through said conduit when the extinguishant pressure at said head is above said predetermined magnitude, said valve means being movable when said pressure falls below said predetermined magnitude to pass line fluid through said conduit and against said fuse.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system recited in claim 16 in which said conduit is formed of malleable material to enable adjustable positioning of the outlet end thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said predetermined condition of said system is the extinguishant pressure at each of said heads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2389332A
Cited
US2647799A
Cited
US3314482A
Cited
US3388747A
Cited
US3454097A
Cited
US3590924A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |