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US 7,516,800 B1Granted
Dry sprinkler
AssigneeTyco Fire Products LP
InventorsManuel R. Silva, Jr., Thomas E. Archibald, Donald B. Pounder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dry sprinkler for a fire protection system. The preferred dry sprinkler has a metallic disc annulus positionable within a passageway to skew a central axis of a face of the metallic disc annulus with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dry sprinkler so that an expected minimum flow rate based on a rated discharge coefficient is provided. The dry sprinkler operates to provide an expected flow rate over a range of start pressures. The expected flow rate is based on a K-factor rating. The dry sprinkler provides an acceptable level of fluid flow rate from the expected flow rate based on the K-factor for a range of start pressures.
Claims55
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter;
- a support member for the metallic disc annulus;
- first means for translating the metallic disc annulus along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- and
- second means for repositioning the central axis of the face skewed to the longitudinal axis within the passageway between the first position and the second position, the second means being located between the first and the second position and longitudinally spaced from the support member for the metallic disc annulus when the annulus is in either one of the first and second positions so that a flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet of the structure is at least 95 percent of the rated K-factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the structure in pounds per square inch gauge.
4 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a locator movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter contacting the structure so that the face occludes a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position, the metallic disc annulus being arranged with the central axis of the face being skewed from the longitudinal axis within the passageway when the locator is proximate the second position so that a flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet of the structure is at least 95 percent of the rated K-factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the structure in pounds per square inch gauge;
- and
- a member that contacts the metallic disc annulus to translate the face of the metallic disc annulus to a side of the longitudinal axis when the locator moves from the first position toward the second position.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a tubular outer structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet;
- a tubular inner assembly disposed within the tubular outer structure and movable along the longitudinal axis in the passageway between a first position and a second position, the tubular inner assembly including:
- a multi-legged yoke, the multi-legged yoke having a first yoke support end and a second yoke support end, the first yoke support end including at least one elongate member, the second yoke support end including at least two support legs extending from the at least one elongate member;
- and
- a fluid tube supporting the multi-legged yoke at one end of the fluid tube;
- a closure assembly supported by the at least one elongate member of the first yoke support end, the closure assembly including a surface occluding a flow of fluid in the passageway when the tubular inner assembly is proximate the first position;
- a projection extending from the tubular outer structure, the projection having a free end located in the passageway, the free end contacting the closure assembly to translate the surface to a side of the longitudinal axis when the inner tubular assembly moves from the first position towards the second position so as to permit a flow of fluid through the passageway between the inlet and outlet;
- a temperature responsive trigger assembly proximate the outlet of the tubular outer structure;
- and
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet of the tubular outer structure.
7 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure having an inner surface to define a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a member having a first surface secured to the inner surface of the passageway and a second surface disposed in the passageway;
- a metallic disc annulus having a first position substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and axially spaced from the member for occluding the passageway, the annulus having a second position skewed from the longitudinal axis so that a fluid can flow from the outlet, the annulus contacting the second surface of the member as the annulus is displaced from the first position to the second position;
- and
- a locator being movable along the longitudinal axis to displace the annulus from the first position to the second position.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure having an inner surface to define a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a member having a first surface engaged with the inner surface of the passageway and a second surface disposed in the passageway;
- a closure assembly including a surface, the closure assembly having a first position substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis such that the member occludes communication between the inlet and the outlet, the closure assembly having a second position skewed from the longitudinal axis such that the inlet is in communication with the outlet, at least a portion of the closure assembly engaging the second surface of the member to move from the first position to the second position and the surface of the closure assembly being axially spaced from the second surface of the member in at least one of the first and second positions;
- and
- a yoke movable along the longitudinal axis and engaging at least a portion of the closure assembly in at least one of the first and second positions.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a locator movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter contacting the structure so that the face occludes a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position, the metallic disc annulus being arranged with the central axis of the face being skewed from the longitudinal axis within the passageway when the locator is proximate the second position so that a flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet of the structure is at least 95 percent of the rated K-factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the structure in pounds per square inch gauge;
- and
- a projection extending from the inner surface of the structure, the projection having a free end located in the passageway, the free end contacting the metallic disc annulus to translate the face of the annulus to a side of the longitudinal axis when the locator moves from the first position towards the second position so as to permit a flow of fluid through the passageway between the inlet and outlet.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter;
- a support member for the metallic disc annulus;
- first means for translating the metallic disc annulus along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- and
- second means for repositioning the central axis of the face skewed to the longitudinal axis within the passageway between the first position and the second position, the second means being located between the first and the second position and longitudinally spaced from the support member for the metallic disc annulus when the annulus is in either one of the first and second positions.
4 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a locator movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter contacting the structure so that the face occludes a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position, the metallic disc annulus being arranged with the central axis of the face being skewed from the longitudinal axis within the passageway when the locator is proximate the second position;
- and
- a member that contacts the metallic disc annulus to translate the face of the metallic disc annulus to a side of the longitudinal axis when the locator moves from the first position toward the second position.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet, the structure having a rated K-factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge;
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet;
- a locator movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
- a metallic disc annulus having a face disposed about a central axis between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter contacting the structure so that the face occludes a flow of fluid through the passageway when the locator is proximate the first position, the metallic disc annulus being arranged with the central axis of the face being skewed from the longitudinal axis within the passageway when the locator is proximate the second position;
- and
- a projection extending from the inner surface of the structure, the projection having a free end located in the passageway, the free end contacting the metallic disc annulus to translate the face of the annulus to a side of the longitudinal axis when the locator moves from the first position towards the second position.
3 more elements
A dry sprinkler comprising:
- a tubular outer structure defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet;
- a tubular inner assembly disposed within the tubular outer structure and movable along the longitudinal axis in the passageway between a first position and a second position, the tubular inner assembly including:
- a multi-legged yoke, the multi-legged yoke having a first yoke support end and a second yoke support end, the first yoke support end including at least one elongate member, the second yoke support end including at least two support legs extending from the at least one elongate member;
- and
- a fluid tube supporting the multi-legged yoke at one end of the fluid tube;
- a closure assembly supported by the at least one elongate member of the first yoke support end, the closure assembly occluding a flow of fluid in the passageway when the tubular inner assembly is proximate the first position;
- a projection coupled to the tubular outer structure, the projection extending in the passageway toward the longitudinal axis, the projection contacting the closure assembly to translate the closure assembly to a side of the longitudinal axis when the inner tubular assembly moves from the first position towards the second position;
- a temperature responsive trigger assembly proximate the outlet of the tubular outer structure;
- and
- a fluid deflecting structure proximate the outlet of the tubular outer structure.
7 more elements
A sprinkler comprising:
- a frame;
- a trigger assembly mounted to said frame;
- an outer structure assembly including an inlet and an outlet spaced along a longitudinal axis, the outlet being coupled to the frame;
- a closure assembly disposed at the inlet of the outer structure assembly;
- and
- an inner assembly extending between the trigger assembly and the closure assembly;
- and
- a sleeve disposed within the outer structure assembly and including a projection extending toward the longitudinal axis for engaging the closure assembly when the trigger assembly is actuated.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.