US 9,672,712 B1Granted

Retrofit self-annunciating sprinkler

OwnerWilliam E. Akersinventor

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Abstract

A water-powered residential fire suppression and alarm system is provided. The system comprises a sprinkler head, a water-powered alarm, a fire-resistant transfer line assembly, and a housing assembly. The sprinkler activates upon excessive heat. An unclosable channel connects the alarm with the sprinkler head. The transfer line assembly includes a fire-resistant transfer line connected the alarm and to a multi-port coupling. The multi-port coupling also connects to an existing water fixture. The transfer line assembly is unclosable. The housing assembly has a housing with a vertical span of about 3-12 inches. The sprinkler head and alarm are mounted to the housing assembly and the transfer line assembly is connected to the housing assembly. The transfer line assembly connects to the sprinkler head directly as well as through the alarm. When water is provided to the coupling and the sprinkler head activates, water flows through the transfer line, activating the alarm.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A water-powered residential fire suppression and alarm system in the form of a retrofit kit for installing in a residential dwelling and connecting to an existing water fixture in the form of an existing spigot already installed in the dwelling, consisting essentially of:

(a) a single sprinkler head;
(b) a water-powered alarm having a water inlet and a water outlet, said alarm being configured such that it emits an audible alarm when water flows between the inlet and the outlet;
(c) a fire resistant transfer line assembly including a fire-resistant transfer line communicating with the water-powered alarm and connected to a multi-port coupling by way of a first port, the multi-port coupling also including a second port configured to connect to an existing residential water fixture, the fire resistant transfer line assembly being configured such that it is unclosable with respect to flow between said first and second ports and the water powered alarm, said fire resistant transfer line assembly further providing flow from the existing residential water fixture to the single sprinkler head through an unclosable flow path;
and
(d) a housing assembly having a housing with a vertical span of about 3 inches to about 12 inches, having one or more conduits mounted therein, wherein the sprinkler head and the water-powered alarm are mounted to the housing assembly and the fire resistant transfer line assembly is connected to the housing assembly such that it communicates with the sprinkler head independently of as well as through the water powered alarm;
whereby when the second port is connected to a source of water pressure and the sprinkler head is activated to allow flow therethrough, water flows through the transfer line thereby necessarily activating the alarm;
and wherein the outlet of said water-powered alarm provides a flow channel to the sprinkler head when said sprinkler head is activated.

4 more elements

(a) a single sprinkler head adapted to activate in response to excessive heat and allow water flow therethrough;
(b) a water-powered alarm having a water inlet and a water outlet, said alarm being configured such that it emits an audible alarm when water flows between the inlet and the outlet;
and
(c) a fire resistant transfer line assembly including a fire-resistant transfer line communicating with the water-powered alarm and connected to a multi-port coupling by way of a first port, the multi-port coupling also including a second port configured to connect to an existing residential water fixture, the fire resistant transfer line assembly being configured such that it is unclosable with respect to flow between said first and second ports and the water powered alarm, said fire resistant transfer line assembly further providing flow from the existing residential water fixture to the single sprinkler head through an unclosable flow path;
whereby when the second port is connected to a source of water pressure and the sprinkler head is activated to allow flow therethrough, water flows through the transfer line thereby necessarily activating the alarm;
and wherein the outlet of said water-powered alarm provides a flow channel to the sprinkler head when said sprinkler head is activated.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.