Sprinkler head with SMA spring
OwnerWilliam J. Hyslopinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sprinkler head for use in a structure for the delivery of a liquid includes a housing, a sleeve, a cap, a spray assembly, a return spring and an SMA spring. The sleeve includes a first portion which is positioned in the housing. The cap is threadedly assembled with the housing. The spray assembly is assembled to a second portion of the sleeve. The return spring is positioned between the cap and the first portion. The SMA spring is positioned between the cap and the spray assembly. The sleeve is movable relative to the housing in order to open a liquid flow path due to activation of the SMA spring resulting from an elevated temperature.
Claims21
A sprinkler head for use in a structure for the delivery of a liquid, said sprinkler head comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet passage;
- a sleeve with a first portion positioned in said housing, wherein said first portion has a valve face that seals said inlet passage to close a liquid flow path;
- a cap assembled to said housing;
- a spray assembly assembled to a second portion of said sleeve;
- a return spring positioned between said cap and said first portion, wherein said return spring applies a force between said cap and said first portion to seal said inlet passage to close the liquid flow path;
- an SMA spring positioned between said cap and said spray assembly;
- and
- wherein said sleeve is movable relative to said housing to open said liquid flow path due to activation of said SMA spring, wherein said SMA spring applies a force to said sleeve to move said sleeve to open said inlet passage to open said liquid flow path when said SMA spring is activated.
A sprinkler head for use in a structure for managing a flow of liquid into said structure, said sprinkler head comprising:
- a first member defining an inlet for a flow of liquid;
- a second member received within said first member, at least one of said first member and said second member being moveable relative to the other member between an inlet-closed position and an inlet-open position;
- a spray assembly;
- a SMA spring which is constructed and arranged to bias the relative movement between said first member and said second member to the inlet-open position;
- and
- a second spring which is constructed and arranged to bias the relative movement between said first member and said second member to the inlet-closed position.
A sprinkler head for use in a structure for the delivery of a liquid, said sprinkler head comprising:
- a housing defining a liquid inlet;
- a sleeve received within said housing and being constructed and arranged to be movable relative to said housing;
- a spray assembly constructed and arranged for receiving liquid from said liquid inlet;
- a first spring fabricated of a shape memory alloy;
- a second spring received within said housing and positioned between said liquid inlet and said first spring;
- and
- wherein said first spring and said second spring each receive a portion of said sleeve.
A sprinkler head for use in a structure for the delivery of a liquid, said sprinkler head comprising:
- a housing defining a liquid inlet;
- a sleeve received within said housing and being constructed and arranged to be movable relative to said housing;
- a spray assembly constructed and arranged for receiving liquid from said liquid inlet;
- a first spring fabricated of a shape memory alloy;
- a second spring received within said housing and positioned between said liquid inlet and said first spring;
- wherein said housing defines a valve seat surface and said sleeve includes a cooperating valve face, wherein movement of said cooperating valve face away from said valve seat surface opens a flow path for entering liquid;
- and
- wherein said second spring is constructed and arranged to apply a closing force on said sleeve to move said cooperating valve face toward said valve seat surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.