US 6,554,077 B2Granted

Quick response adjustable automatic sprinkler arrangements

AssigneeThe Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.

InventorGeorge S. Polan

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Abstract

The sprinkler arrangements described in the specification include a sprinkler body with an axial passage and an axially movable assembly movable between a sealing position and an open position and including a Belleville washer engageable with a shoulder in the sprinkler body to seal the axial passage in the sealing position and a deflector to distribute water emerging from the passage when the movable assembly is in the open position. A locking assembly which is separable from the sprinkler body normally retains the axially movable assembly in the sealing position and is releasable by a temperature sensitive apparatus at an elevated temperature to permit the movable assembly to move to the open position. In one embodiment the axially movable member has a central post which is slidably guided by a tripod at the outer end of the axial passage. The temperature sensitive apparatus includes a locking disc supported by a temperature responsive element which may be a glass bulb supported in a bulb cage, a plug of fusible material supporting a locking pin, or a solder link retaining the ends of lever members to hold the locking disc in place.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A quick response sprinkler arrangement comprising:

a sprinkler body with an axial passage for fire extinguishing fluid having an inlet end and an outlet end;
an axially movable assembly movable between a sealing position and an open position which includes a deflector extending transversely to the axis of the sprinkler and a spring sealing member engaging a seat on the sprinkler body and a seat on the axially movable assembly for sealing the axial passage in the sealing position and for urging the axially movable assembly away from the sealing position;
a support structure at the outlet end of the axial passage having a cylindrical opening containing the deflector in the sealing position of the axially movable assembly;
a locking arrangement adjacent to the deflector and normally held in a locking position within the cylindrical opening and having a configuration arranged to conceal the deflector and retain the axially movable assembly in the sealing position;
and
a temperature sensitive device axially disposed outwardly from the cylindrical opening and from the support structure and the locking arrangement and normally retaining the locking arrangement in the locking position and actuable in response to an elevated temperature condition to release the locking assembly from its locking position and permit the axially movable assembly to move from the sealing position to the open position, thereby permitting fire extinguishing fluid to emerge from the outer end of the passage and be distributed by the deflector.

3 more elements

A quick response sprinkler arrangement comprising:

a sprinkler body having an axial passage for fire extinguishing fluid with an inlet end and an outlet end;
an axially movable assembly movable between a sealing position and an open position which includes a deflector extending transversely to the axis of the sprinkler and a sealing member for sealing the axial passage;
a locking arrangement normally held in a locking position to retain the axially movable assembly in the sealing position;
a temperature sensitive device normally retaining the locking arrangement in the locking position and including a thermally responsive element disposed axially outwardly of the deflector in the sealing position of the axially movable assembly and having an outer surface facing away from the sprinkler body and an inner surface facing toward the sprinkler body;
and
a locking disc forming a part of the locking arrangement and disposed between the deflector and the temperature sensitive device and having an outer surface facing the thermally responsive element with a peripheral portion inclined toward the rear surface of the thermally responsive element to direct air toward the rear surface of the thermally responsive element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.