Patent US3812915A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3812915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discharge head having constant force plug retaining member
Assignee: Factory Mutual Research Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-04
•
Granted: 1974-05-28
•
Expires: 1993-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A pressure responsive discharge head in which an expellable plug is disposed in the outlet of a body member having an inlet adapted for connection to a source fo fluid, with the plug being connected relative to the body member in a position preventing the discharge of fluid from the outlet. A connector is provided which applies a constant force to the plug to maintain it in the flow preventing position and which is adapted to release the plug in response to a predetermined fluid pressure existing in the body member.
Inventors
- 👤 W Livingston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:04
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C37/00; A62C37/08; A62C37/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A discharge head comprising a body member having an inlet for a source of fluid under pressure, and an outlet for discharging said fluid, a plug member adapted to attain a position in said body member in which it prevents the flow of fluid from said outlet, said plug member being urged from said flow preventing position by the force of the fluid pressure in said body member, and connector means connecting said plug member relative to said body member in a manner to exert a predetermined force against said plug member in a direction opposite to that of said fluid pressure to maintain said plug member in said flow preventing position when said fluid pressure is below a predetermined value, said connector means being adapted to release said connection when said fluid pressure attains said predetermined value and permit the movement of said plug member from said flow preventing position and the discharge of fluid from said outlet, said connector means being adapted to maintain the value of said predetermined force despite dimensional variations in said members and variations in the relative positions of said members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A discharge head comprising a body member having an inlet for a source of fluid under pressure, and an outlet for discharging said fluid, a plug member adapted to attain a position in said body member in which it prevents the flow of fluid from said outlet, said plug member being urged from said flow preventing position by the force of the fluid pressure in said body member, and connector means connecting said plug member relative to said body member in a manner to exert a predetermined force against said plug member in a direction opposite to that of said fluid pressure to maintain said plug member in said flow preventing position when said fluid pressure is below a predetermined value, said connector means being adapted to release said connection when said fluid pressure attains said predetermined value and permit the movement of said plug member from said flow preventing position and the discharge of fluid from said outlet, said connector means being adapted to maintain the value of said predetermined force despite dimensional variations in said members and variations in the relative positions of said members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The head of claim 1 wherein said connector means comprises a strip of flexible material having a coiled portion, said strip of flexible material being fixed relative to said body member and to said plug member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The head of claim 2 further comprising linkage means for engaging said plug member to retain it in said flow preventing position, said linkage means including a fusible link responsive to a predetermined temperature in the vicinity of said body member for releasing said engagement, said plug member moving from said flow preventing position upon the existence of both said predetermined temperature and said predetermined value of fluid pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The head of claim 3 wherein a pin is formed on the interior wall of said body member, said strip of flexible material having one end portion coiled around said pin and the other end portion attached to said plug member inside said body member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The head of claim 4 wherein said pin is adapted to fuse at a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of said fusible link to permit release of said plug member despite said fluid pressure being below said predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The head of claim 1 further comprising linkage means for engaging said plug member to retain it in said flow preventing position, said connector means comprising a strip of flexible material having a coiled portion, said strip of flexible material being fixed relative to said body member and to said linkage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The head of claim 6 wherein said linkage means includes a first lever engaging said plug member and a second lever engaging said first lever, said strip of flexible material being fixed relative to said body member and to said second lever.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The head of claim 7 wherein said linkage means further comprises a fusible link connecting said levers in a manner to maintain said plug in said flow preventing position, said fusible link being responsive to a predetermined temperature in the vicinity of said body member for releasing said connection, said plug member moving from said flow preventing position upon the existence of both said predetermined temperature and said predetermined value of fluid pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The head of claim 8 further comprising a fusible pin connecting said strip of flexible material to said second lever, said pin adapted to fuse at a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of said fusible link to permit release of said plug member despite said fluid pressure being below said predetermined value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for controlling the operation of a discharge head in which a plug member is disposed in the outlet of said head to normally prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, comprising the steps of exerting a predetermined force against said plug member in a direction opposite to that of said fluid pressure to maintain said plug member in said flow preventing position when said fluid pressure is below a predetermined value, releasing said force when said fluid pressure attains said predetermined value to permit the movement of said plug member from said flow preventing position and the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and maintaining the value of said force despite dimensional variations in said members and variations in the relative positions of said members.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for controlling the operation of a discharge head in which a plug member is disposed in the outlet of said head to normally prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, comprising the steps of exerting a predetermined force against said plug member in a direction opposite to that of said fluid pressure to maintain said plug member in said flow preventing position when said fluid pressure is below a predetermined value, releasing said force when said fluid pressure attains said predetermined value to permit the movement of said plug member from said flow preventing position and the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and maintaining the value of said force despite dimensional variations in said members and variations in the relative positions of said members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of exerting an additional force against said plug member in a direction opposite to that of said fluid pressure, and releasing said additional force in response to the temperature in the vicinity of said head exceeding a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of releasing said force in response to the temperature in the vicinity of said head exceeding a predetermined value despite the absence of said predetermined value of fluid pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US302991A
Cited
US1028940A
Cited
US3314482A
Cited
US3561537A
Cited
US3543211A
Cited
US3633676A
Cited
US3653444A
Cited
US3714989A
Cited
US3684025A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |