Heat-sensitive trigger for a fire sprinkler valve

A heat-sensitive trigger configured for a fire sprinkler valve having a frame or yoke with a pipe attachment, a bore and a diverter, and with a plug engaging the bore and configured to removably block a flow of a fire suppression fluid through the bore, the trigger configured to be carried by the frame or yoke and configured to releasably maintain the plug in engagement with the bore, the trigger comprising:

• a) an elongated metal body with a longitudinal axis and a length between distal retainable ends, the body being an enclosed metal capsule with a hollow interior void of material and having an annular cross-sectional shape taken transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• b) the body being segmented into opposite rods by a cut through the body oriented at an acute angle transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis, the opposite segments having opposing annular faces;
• c) the opposite rods being joined together defining a joint between the opposite rods;
• d) a fusible ring of fusible material disposed in the joint between the opposing annular faces of the opposite rods and joining the opposite rods together with the opposite rods joined together solely by the fusible material;
• e) the fusible material having a melting temperature less than a melting temperature of the opposite rods;
• f) an exterior of the body comprising a layer added to the exterior of the body, the layer comprising a preselected color corresponding to and designating the melting temperature of the fusible material;
• and
• g) an entire length of the body, including the joint and the fusible material, being exposed and visible during use, and the layer on the exterior of the body being disposed along an entire length of the body so that the layer on the exterior of the body is exposed and visible during use.

A fire sprinkler valve trigger, comprising:

• a) an enclosed metal capsule with a longitudinal axis, a hollow interior void of material, and an elongated length between distal retainable ends;
• b) the capsule being segmented into opposite segments by a cut through the capsule oriented at an acute angle transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis;
• c) the opposite segments having opposing annular faces;
• d) the opposite segments being joined together defining a joint between the opposite segments;
• e) a fusible ring disposed in the joint between the opposing annular faces of the opposite segments and joining the opposite segments together;
• and
• f) the fusible ring comprising a fusible material with a melting temperature less than a melting temperature of the opposite segments.

A fire sprinkler valve, comprising:

• a) a frame or yoke with a pipe attachment, a bore and a diverter, configured to be coupled to a pipe with the pipe attachment and receive a flow of a fire suppression fluid from the pipe and through the bore, and disperse the fire suppression fluid with the diverter;
• b) a plug engaging the bore and removably blocking the flow of the fire suppression fluid through the bore;
• c) a trigger carried by the frame or yoke and releasably maintaining the plug in engagement with the bore, the trigger being an enclosed metal capsule with a hollow interior void of material and having an annular cross-sectional shape taken transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• d) the trigger being elongated and having a length defined between distal retained ends;
• e) the trigger being segmented into opposite segments by a cut in the trigger oriented at an acute angle transverse with respect to a length of the trigger, the opposite segments having opposing annular faces;
• f) the opposite segments being joined together defining a joint between the opposite segments;
• g) a fusible ring of fusible material disposed in the joint between the opposite segments and joining the opposing annular faces of the opposite segments together, and defining a failure point in the trigger between the opposite segments, with the opposite segments joined together solely by the fusible material;
• h) the fusible material having a melting temperature less than a melting temperature of the opposite segments;
• i) an exterior of the trigger comprising a layer added to the exterior of the trigger, the layer comprising a preselected color corresponding to and designating the melting temperature of the fusible material;
• and
• j) an entire length of the trigger between the distal retained ends, including the joint and the fusible material, being exposed and visible during use, and the layer on the exterior of the trigger being disposed along an entire length of the trigger between the distal retained ends so that the layer on the exterior of the trigger is exposed and visible during use.