Deflector type spray nozzle for fire protection and other systems

Claim 1

A deflector type spray nozzle for fire protection systems and the like adapted to discharge a spray pattern in a nearly horizontal direction and comprising, in combination (a) a hollow body having an inlet adapted for connection to a fire main; (b) means defining a vane chamber in said body substantially larger in diameter than said inlet; (c) means defining a frustoconical whirl chamber adjacent the end of said body remote from said inlet and defining an outlet for said body; (d) a multi-bladed vane telescopically housed within said vane chamber having a plurality of generally helical passages defined therein communicating between said inlet and said whirl chamber for imparting a tangential swirling movement to liquid passing through said helical passages; (e) means in said body precluding rotation of said vane relative thereto; and (f) deflector plate means having a diameter greater than the diameter of said vane and whirl chambers connected to said body and disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to said body outlet, said deflector plate means having a concave deflector section opposite said outlet and being formed with a plurality of radial diffusion slots extending from the periphery of said deflector plate means into intersecting relation with said concave deflector section for diffusing swirling liquid exiting said outlet in a substantially horizontally directed and symmetrical spray pattern with substantial uniformity in distribution throughout the area of the spray pattern, and said deflector plate means being spaced sufficiently from said body outlet such that the body and deflector plate means do not define a flow restriction for nozzling the diffused liquid leaving the deflector plate means.