Fire extinguishing sprinkler valve
OwnerAlvin A. Snaperinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal responsive valve having a temperature sensitive magnetic material for operating a valve in response to temperature variations. A valve is held closed by magnetic forces from mutually attractive magnetic means. One or more of the magnetic means are formed of materials that have strong magnetic properties producing magnetic forces which vary according to temperature. The magnetic materials are selected to provide a design temperature which when reached abruptly causes the material to lose its magnetic properties (permeability) becoming magnetically inert opening the valve. When the materials cools to the design temperature and below it abruptly retains its magnetic properties and will close the valve.
Claims14
A sprinkler valve for use in fire extinguishing systems comprising:
- a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and a passageway connecting said inlet and outlet;
- connecting means connecting said inlet to a water supply system;
- spray nozzle means connected to said outlet for spraying water supplied to said sprinkler valve;
- flow interrupting means for interrupting the flow of water through said passageway from said inlet to said outlet;
- magnetically attractive material on said flow interrupting means;
- thermally responsive magnetic means mounted on an external portion of said valve housing exposed to ambient air cooperating with said magnetically attractive material on said interrupting means to open or close said passageway;
- said thermally responsive magnetic means being constructed of a material which loses its magnetic permeability at a preselected temperature;
- said magnetically attractive material on said flow interrupting means being magnetically attracted to said thermally responsive magnetic means so that said passageway is normally closed preventing the flow of water to said outlet;
- said thermally responsive magnetic means losing its magnetic attraction at said preselected temperature caused by external heat from a fire proximate said valve;
- whereby said valve opens at or above said preselected temperature permitting water to be distriburted from said nozzle connected to said outlet to extinguish said fire, said valve closing when fire is extinguished and the temperature proximate said valve falls below said preselected temperature to shut off said valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.