Automatic on-off sprinkler

Claim 2

A water sprinkler for a fire protection sprinkler system, comprising: a body member including a fluid inlet means adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid; a cylindrical control chamber formed in said body member in axial alignment with the fluid inlet means; piston means slideably and sealingly disposed in said control chamber; valve means associated with the piston means for opening and closing the fluid inlet means in response to the position of said piston means in the control chamber; means formed in said body member for discharging fluid when the fluid inlet means is open; a cylindrical bore formed in said body member in axial alignment with the control chamber and in communication therewith; a tubular guide member mounted axially in said piston and having an end extending partially into the cylindrical bore for guiding the piston during reciprocation in the control chamber, said tubular guide member loosely fitting in said bore; a passage formed substantially centrally in said piston communicating the fluid inlet means with the tubular guide member, so that pressurized fluid is coupled from the fluid inlet means to the control chamber through a conduit formed by the passage, tubular guide member and the cylindrical bore, the effective area of the piston exposed to the pressure in the control chamber being greater than the effective area of the valve means exposed to pressure in said fluid inlet means, so that the piston is urged towards the fluid inlet means and the valve means closes the fluid inlet means; a ball type check valve means disposed in the conduit for preventing fluid flow from the control chamber to the fluid inlet means while allowing pressurized fluid to flow into the control chamber; an outlet port formed in said body member for releasing fluid from the control chamber; and temperature responsive pilot valve means associated with said outlet port for controlling fluid flow through the outlet port in response to ambient temperature so that the pressure in the control chamber is released when a predetermined ambient temperature is attained and the piston is urged away from the fluid inlet means by the force of the pressurized fluid thereby opening the fluid inlet means for discharging the pressurized fluid.

Claim 3

A water sprinkler as described in claim 1, wherein said body member comprises: a fluid inlet member having a downstream end and an upstream end adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid; an open frame associated with said inlet member; and an upper body portion supported by said frame in spaced relAtion to said downstream end, said cylindrical control chamber formed in the upper body portion and having an open end facing said downstream end and spaced therefrom.

Claim 4

A water sprinkler as described in claim 2, wherein the open frame comprises a pair of arms extending upwardly and outwardly from the inlet member.

Claim 5

A water sprinkler as described in claim 2, wherein the valve means is formed integrally with the piston means and engages a valve seating surface about the downstream end of the fluid inlet member.

Claim 6

A water sprinkler as described in claim 4, additionally comprising deflector means mounted on said valve means for distributing pressurized fluid through said open frame when the downstream end of the fluid inlet member is open.

Claim 7

A water sprinkler for a fire protection sprinkler system, comprising: a fluid inlet member having an upstream end adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid and a downstream end; an open frame associated with said inlet member; a body member supported by said open frame in spaced relationship to said downstream end, said body member having a cylindrical control chamber formed therein in axial alignment with the fluid inlet member and having an open end facing said downstream end and spaced therefrom; piston means slideably and sealingly disposed in said control chamber for closing and sealing said chamber; valve means for opening and closing the downstream end of the fluid inlet member in response to the position of said piston in the control chamber; deflector means mounted on said piston for distributing pressurized fluid through said open frame when the downstream end of the fluid inlet member is open; a cylindrical bore formed in said body member concentric with the control chamber and in communication therewith; a tubular guide member mounted axially in said piston and having an end extending partially into the cylindrical bore for guiding the piston during reciprocation in the control chamber, said tubular guide member loosely fitting in said bore; a passage formed substantially centrally through said piston communicating the fluid inlet member with the tubular guide member, so that pressurized fluid is coupled from the fluid inlet member to the control chamber through the passage, tubular guide member and the cylindrical bore, the effective area of the piston exposed to the pressure in the control chamber being greater than the effective area of the valve means exposed to pressure in said fluid inlet member, whereby the piston is urged towards the fluid inlet member and the valve means closes the downstream end of the fluid inlet member; a ball disposed in the bore and adapted to rest on the end of the tubular member extending into the bore for preventing fluid flow from the control chamber to the inlet member while allowing pressurized fluid to flow into the control chamber; an outlet port formed in said body member for releasing fluid pressure from the control chamber; and temperature responsive pilot valve means associated with said outlet port for controlling fluid flow through the outlet port in response to ambient temperature so that the pressure in the control chamber is released when a predetermined ambient temperature is attained and the piston is urged away from the fluid inlet member by the force of the pressurized fluid thereby opening the downstream end of the fluid inlet member for distribution of the pressurized fluid.

Claim 8

A water sprinkler for a fire protection sprinkler system, comprising: a fluid inlet member having an upstream end adapted for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid and a downstream end; an open frame associated with said inlet member; a body member supported by said open frame in spaced relationship to said downstream end, said body member having a cylindrical control chamber formed therein in axial alignment with the fluid inlet member and having an open end facing said downstream end and spaced therefrom; piston means slideably and sealingly disposed in said control chamber for closing and sealing said chamber; valve means for opening and closing the downstream end of the fluid inlet member in response to the position of said piston in the control chamber; deflector means mounted on said piston for distributing pressurized fluid through said open frame when the downstream end of the fluid inlet member is open; a cylindrical bore formed in said body member concentric with the control chamber and in communication therewith; a tubular guide member mounted axially in said piston and having an end extending partially into the cylindrical bore for guiding the piston during reciprocation in the control chamber, said tubular guide member loosely fitting in said bore; a passage formed substantially centrally through said piston communicating the fluid inlet member with the tubular guide member, so that pressurized fluid is coupled from the fluid inlet member to the control chamber through the passage, tubular guide member and the cylindrical bore, the effective area of the piston exposed to the pressure in the control chamber being greater than the effective area of the valve means exposed to pressure in said fluid inlet member, whereby the piston is urged towards the fluid inlet member and the valve means closes the downstream end of the fluid inlet member; a ball disposed in the bore and adapted to rest on the end of the tubular member extending into the bore for preventing fluid flow from the control chamber to the inlet member while allowing pressurized fluid to flow into the control chamber; an outlet port formed in said body member for releasing fluid pressure from the control chamber; and temperature responsive pilot valve means associated with said outlet port for controlling fluid flow through the outlet port in response to ambient temperature so that the pressure in the control chamber is released when a predetermined ambient temperature is attained and the piston is urged away from the fluid inlet member by the force of the pressurized fluid thereby opening the downstream end of the fluid inlet member for distribution of the pressurized fluid.

Claim 9

A water sprinkler as described in claim 1, wherein the ball type check valve means comprises a ball disposed in the bore and adapted to rest on the end of the tubular member extending into the bore.