US2389331A - Sprinkler head - Google Patents

Description

E. TYDEN SPRINKLER HEAD Nov. 20, 1945.

Filed July 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. TYDEN SPRINKLER HEAD Nav. 2o, 1945.

Filed July 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY fl Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE sPRmKLER HEAD A Emil Tyden, Hastings, Mich.

Application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,512

12 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinkler heads designed for use in a fireextinguishing system, and one object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sprinkler head which eliminates` certain objections to the standard types now in common use. These objections are concerned primary with the matter of appearance. because, heretofore, the usual practice was to mount these sprinkler heads so that they extended a substantial distance below the ceiling of the room. In some instances, particularly where indirect lighting is employed, these projecting sprinkler heads tend to cause unsightly shadows on the ceiling. They are also considered lobjectionable in stores and oflice buildings where special attention is paid to the finish and decoration of wall surfaces.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an improved sprinkler head of relatively simple construction adapted to be installed with its lower end substantially flush with the ceiling of the room. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a. sprinkler head adapted for flush mounting in the ceiling but having a spreader or water deecting device arranged to be automatically lowered below the plane of the ceiling when the sprinkler becomes operative by reason of fire conditions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head having its operative mechanism housed in the ceiling and above the lower surface thereof but with its fusible element disposed slightly below the plane of the ceiling for certain exposure to the currents of 'heated air flowing across the ceiling under re conditions.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head mechanism which includes a valve housed above the plane of the ceiling and a fusible element disposed slightly below said plane and operative to release the valve,

l together with a 4water deecting spreader unconnected with the valve but adapted to be lowered below the plane of the ceiling under fire conditions for proper distribution of the water released by the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken axially through the housing of a sprinkler head embodying this invention and showing a special fitting in the -feed pipe with which the sprinkler head is connected.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing the parts in operative position with the valve open and with the water deflecting spreader lowered below the plane of the ceiling.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a removable structure which carries the deector.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail section on an enlarged scale showing the structure of the fusible element.

Fig. 5 is a disassembled axial section showing the three parts of the valve structure.

Fig. 6 is a partly disassembled elevation of the structure which includes the valve seat and which is removable bodily from the housing for resetting the valve.

While there is shown and described certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described except as indicated by the appended claims.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it may be understood that the ceiling of the room is shown in section vat I and that a pipe fitting 2, shown mounted above the ceiling I, is a part of the water supply line which feeds the sprinkler heads which are the subject of this invention when they are operative for their flre extinguishing function. The iitting 2 includes a cylindrical portion which may be suitably threaded, as indicated at 3, and which has a laterally offset chamber 4 of restricted height so as to provide a suitable support for a sprinkler head within the usual space afforded between a ceiling and the floor above it. The offset portion 4 has a threaded opening in its lower side to receive the threaded stem 5 oi the housing 6. The lower end of the housing is disposed substantially flush with the under side. of the ceiling I and fits within an opening la therein, the clearance between the opening and the lower end of the housing 6 being closed by means of the disk 1 of nbre orsimilar material secured to the housing 6 by small screws 8 so as to be readily removable therefrom lwhen it becomes necessary to detach the sprinkler head bodily from the supply pipe. For this purpose the flange 9 at the lower end of the housing 6 is formed with radially extending lugs I0, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, spaced circumferentially around the flange to permit engagement of the housing by a suitable socket wrench or similar tool after the disk 1 has been removed. I

The stem 5 of the housing is formed with a @entrai feed port II communicating with 'the chamber 4 of the supply pipe 2, and said stem iscover disk I3 enclosing the body disk I5 in the usual manner. A central depression Ilia in the cover disk I5 is engaged by one end of a frangible member, which may be a glass rod I1, while the opposite end of said rod is lodged in the cupped end of a set screw lI8 adjusted to holdvthe valve I4 in closed position. The set screw I8 is threaded into a depending arm I9 which is integral with the valve chamber I2 and which also serves to fulcrum a lever for a purpose about to be indicated.

witmn the housing s there is sudabiy mounted a carrier 2| having a cylindrical body portion 22 with a peripheral flange 23, and including also a depending open frame 24 which carries at its lower end the spreader disk or water deflector 25 of the usual type employed in fire extinguishing sprinkler heads. Adjacent its lower end the housing 6 has an inwardly extending screwed in flange 26 which provides an upwardly facing shoulder 21 and a central opening 28 through which the depending frame 24 is dimensioned to pass when the carrier is lowered. Under normal conditions said carrier and the spreader 25 are held above the plane of the ceiling I by means of a strut 23 which is held in engagement with the central hub 3l of the carrier frame 24 by means of a cap 3l fitted telescopically over a depending sleeve 32 which forms a continuation of the opening 28 in the housing 6. The sleeve 32 is provided with a foot ange 33 by which it is secured to the ange 26 of the housing preferably with an interposed washer 34 of breor similar material, which is a relatively poor heat conductor and the strut 25 is also made of material which is a poor conductor of heat. 'I'he peripheral flange 3Ia of the cap 3| is secured to the sleeve 32 by means of solder or similar material of low Y- melting point, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 4. And

this is supplemented by a plurality of metallic balls 35 pocketed in recesses 31 in the flange 3|a and engaged in apertures 38 in the sleeve 32.

At a predetermined temperature, indicating a ilre condition, the fusible material 35 releases the cap 3| from the sleeve 32 and the downward thrust loi the strut 23 forces the cap 3l oif the end of the sleeve 32, incidentally forcing the balls 35 out of the apertures 38 so that they no longer resist the removal of the cap 3|. 'Ihe downward thrust on the strut 23 is caused by a coil spring 4l which encircles the cylindrical portion 22 of the carrier 2| and reacts downwardly against its ange 23, forcing the carrier downwardly to a p0- sition at which it is stopped by4 the shoulder 21, as seen in Fig. 2.

At its upper end the cylindrical body 22 of the I carrier 2| has an inwardly extending shoulder 4| which strikes the end of the lever 20 as the carrier moves downward.` 'I'he lever 20 is in the form of a bell crank having a short arm 20a which normally stands adjacent the frangible glass rod I1. The descent of the carrier 2| rocks tbe lever 20, causing its arm 23a to break the rod I1, thus releasing the valve I4 and opening the port so that the water may flow downwardly therefrom. Preferably, a cage 42 of perforated metal is disposed below the valve I4, being clamped to the threaded terminal of the arm I-Sbyanut 43.

It will be understood that the heat insulating washer 34, interposed between the flange of the sleeve 32 and the' flange 26 of the housing 3, tends to retard the transfer of heat from the part 32 to the housing 8 and thus permits the temperature of the part 32 to rise rapidly when the air surrounding it attains a dangerously high temperature. This insures prompt response of the sprinkler head by melting of the fusible material at 35, and the consequent flow of the water, as just described. In the event of actual fire it is important that the ceiling shall not have openings into which the flames might be drawn, and this is one purpose of providing the disk 1 which effectively seals the clearance space Ia around the end ange 3 of the housing 6. The body of the housing 6 is a closed cylinder open only at the upper end to form the port II and at the lower end to provide the central opening 28 through which the spreader 25 is lowered when the sprinkler head goes into action. Thus, during the fire, the sprinkler head structure provides no opening through the ceiling even after the cap 3| has un.. covered the opening 28. After the nre is extin* guished and the water has been shut of?, the disk 1 is removed, permitting access to the end flange 9 for unscrewing the body I from the chamber 4. The entire housing may then be shipped to the factory or to a branch service station for replacement and resetting of the parts.

To permit removal of the carrier 2| from the housing 6 the flange portion 25 is separable from the housing, being threaded hito it at the lower end, and can be unscrewed bodily to provide clearance for removal of the internal parts. While the flange 26 is thus separated from the housing the sleeve 32 may be fitted with a new cap 3|, secured by fusible means, as shown in Fig. 4, and a new strut 23 will be provided to go within the cap 3 I. 4

Removal of the carrier 2| and its spring affords access to the separable valve seat member or chamber I2 which has its upper portion I 2a externally threaded to engage the threads 5a in a counterbore of the housing stem 5. Thus the entire chamber I2 may be unscrewed from the housing and removed through the lower end thereof. Upon removal the perforated cage 42 may be disengaged from the valve chamber I2 by unscrewing the retainer nut 43 and the fragments of the old frangible rod I1 may then be replaced with a new rod I1 to hold the valve I4, I5, I3 in place, the parts being clamped by means of the adjustable set screw. The cage 42 will then be slipped in place and secured by its nut 43, rendering the valve chamber ready for re-insertion in the threaded bore 5a of the housing stem. Thereafter the spring 4|! and carrier 2| will be slipped into the housing 3 and the flange 2li, with its new cap 3| in place, will be positioned with the strut 23 engaging the lower end of the carrier while the flange is screwed into the end of the housing to complete its closure and tension the spring 40. This renders the entire sprinkler head ready to be replaced in service by attachment to the chamber 4 of the supply fitting 2.

Although factory inspection of the sprinkler heads after service under nre conditions is preferable, it may not always be convenient, and the parts are so designed that it is not absolutely necessary to disconnect the housing 5 from the supply pipe for replacement and resetting of the valve and associated parts. The internal parte can be removed as already described, upon unscrewing the flange 23 so that a. service man inV ing.

It may be noted that the carrier 2| has a centrai port or orifice 45 formed at the lower end of its cylindrical body 22 and directly above the spreader 25. This orifice is dimensoned and posltionedto insure a forcible discharge of the water toward the spreader and it provides the only outlet from the housing 6. Therefore, the perforated cage 42 is provided to catch the fragments of the frangible rod I1 and the parts I4, I5 and Il of the valve when itis unseated so as to forestall any possibility of the clogging of the orifice 45 by these parts when they are released. Ther cage 42 is slotted at one side to permit operation of the lever 20; and when the valve chamber I2 is removed from the housing 6 for resetting the valve, the cage'42 will be disengaged from it temporarily, as indicated in Fig. 6.

I claim as my invention: l. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing sysi tem comprising a housing with its lower end disposed substantially ush with a ceiling, a closure for. said lower end of the housing including.a cap and fusible means securing said cap, a normally closed valve in the housing, a spreader disposed in the housing, a carrier supporting the spreader and slidable vertically in the housing, means interposed between the cap and said carrier upholding the carrier, whereby, upon fusing of the means securing the cap, said carrier descends in the housing, lowering the spreader to an operative position below the plane of the ceiling, and means operable by the downward movement of the carrier to open the valve.

2. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing with its lower end disposed substantially flush with a ceiling, a closure for said lower end of the housing including a cap and fusible means securing said cap, a normally closed valve in the housing, a spreader disposed in the housing, a carrier-supporting the spreader and slidable vertically in the housing, means interposed between the cap and said carrier upholding the carrier, whereby, upon fusing of the posed substantially flush with a ceiling, a closure for said lower end of the housing including a cap and fusible means securing said cap, a normally closed valve in thehousing, a spreader disposed in the housing, a carrier supporting the lspreader and slidable vertically in the housing,

spring means urging the carrier downward, means interposed between the cap and said carrier upholding the carrier with said spring means under tension, whereby, upon fusing of the means securing the cap, said carrier descends in the housing, lowering the spreader to an operative position below the plane of the ceiling, a frangible member holding the valve closed, and mechanism operable to break said member and release the valve, said mechanism being actuated by 'said carrier in its descent in the housing.

4. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system, comprising a housing with its lower. end

disposed substantially flush with a ceiling, a closure for said lower end of the housing including a cap and fusible means securing said cap, a normally closed valve in the housing, a spreader disposed in the housing, a carrier supporting the spreader and slidable vertically in' the housing, means. interposed between the cap and said carrier upholding the carrier, whereby, upon fusing of the means securing the cap, said carrier descends in the housing, lowering the spreader to an operative position below the plane of the ceiling, a frangible member holding the valve closed,

and a lever` operable to break said member and release the valve, said lever being actuated by a shoulder on said carrier invits descent in the housing.

5. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system-comprising a housing positioned with its lower end substantially flush with the ceii'ing, a flow passage within said housing, a normally closed'valve controlling said passage, a spreader disposed in the housing, a carrier supporting the spreader and slidable vertically in the housing, means including a fusible element normallyvupp holding said carrier and retaining the spreader within the housing but operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the carrier, allowing it to descend and lower the spreader to an operative position below the plane of the ceiling, and means independent of said fusible link normally holding said valve at closed position but releasable by the descent of the carrier.

6. In a sprinkler head as defined in claim.2, a valve seat for said valve formed in a valve chamber externally threaded, the upper portion of the housing having a ow passage internally threaded to receive said chamber, the valve chamber including a depending arm with a set screw adjustable therein toward and from the valve seat for clamping the said valve to its seat with said frangible member interposed between the valve and the set screw, whereby the valve chamber is removable bodily from the housing for resetting of its valve in closed position after operation of the sprinkler` head.

7. In a sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, said carrier including a transverse wall conforming substantially to the interior cross-section of the housing, said housing having a stop shoulder upon which said wall of the carrier lodges when the spreader is lowered to operative position, and said wall having a discharge orifice of limited area to insure forcible delivery of the water from the housing onto thespreader.

8. In a sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, said carrier including a transverse wall conforming'substantially to the interior cross-section of the housing with a central orifice in said wall for discharge of the water onto the spreader, the housing having an annular stop flange at its lower end to limit the descent of the carrier and permit discharge of the water.

9. In a sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, said carrier including a transverse wall conforming substantially to the interior cross-section of the housing with a central orifice in said wall for discharge of the water onto the spreader, the housing having an annular stop flange at its lower end to limit the descent of the carrier and permit discharge of the water, said stop flange being a separate member removably secured to the housing and disengagea'ble therefrom to permit removal of the carrier.

10. In asprinkler head as dened in claim 1, said carrier including a transverse wall conforming substantially to the interior cross-section of the housing with a central orifice in said wall for discharge of the water onto the spreader, the housing having an annular stop ange at its lower end to limit the descent of the carrier and permit discharge of the water, said stop flange being a .separate member removably secured to flange and the adjacent wall of the housing and reacting between the upper end o1 the housing and the marginal portion oi said wall of the carrier to forcibly lower the carrier.-

i2. In a sprinkler head as defined in claim 2, a valve seat for said valve formed in a valve chamber externally threaded, the upper portion of the housing havin'g a flow passage internally threaded to receive said chamber, the valve chamber including a depending arm with a set screw adjustable therein toward and from the valve seat for clamping the said valve to its seat with said frangible member interposed between the valve and the set screw, whereby the valve chamber is removable bodily from the housing for resetting of its valve in closed position after operation' of the sprinkler hea'd, the said carrier including a transverse wall conforming substanl tially to the interior cross-section of thehousing with a central orifice invsaid wall for discharge of the water onto the spreader, the housing having an annular stop iiange at its lower end to limit the descent of the carrier, said iiange being a separate member removably secured to the housing and disengageable therefrom to permit removal of the carrier and the valve chamber.

EMIL TYDEN.

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