US1028247A - Automatic-sprinkler closer. - Google Patents

Description

L. D. MOREY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLBR CLOSER.

VAPPLIMJIION FILED JUNE 1, 1904.

Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CDLUMHM PLANouRAPH C0.,wASHxNOTON. D. C.

L. D. MOREY.v

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CLOSER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNB1,1904.

1,028,247. Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. w s? CQLUMBIA PLANOURAPH c0..w.\sHlNuToN. D. c.

LEONARD D. IVIOREY, OF WATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JULIUS I-I. IBRONSON, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. 'L

AUTOMATIC-SPRINKLER CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une a, i912.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD D. MoRnY, of Watertown, in the county of Litcheld and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic- Sprinkler Closers; and I do hereby declare the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

.In the case of a re in a building equipped with automatic sprinklers it frequently happens that for one cause or another the water cannot be shut 0H promptly after the sprinklers hav-e operated and after the fire in the vicinity of the opened sprinklers has been extinguished, with the result that a greater or less amount of water damage is occasioned by the flow of water from the open sprinklers, which could be prevented if means were at hand for promptly closing the individual sprinkler or sprinklers that had become opened and so as to shutoif the flow of water therefrom. So also it some times happens that a sprinkler becomes opened accidentally and when there is no fire to be extinguished, and it would be of great advantage to be able to promptly close such opened sprinkler Without shutting off the water from theentire sprinkler system, or that portion thereof upon which such opened sprinkler is located.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient'and eiiicient means for thus closing an opened sprinkler and preventing the flow of water therefrom, when it is either inconvenient or undesirable to shut 0E the water from the sprinkler system.

To that end the invention Vconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described `and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the sprinkler closer; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 is a side view showing the device in place in a sprinkler and closing the outlet thereof; Fig. 4 is a view at right angles to Fig. 3, and showing the device in cross section; Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 2; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show means for inserting the closer in place andthe manner of using the same.

The device consists ofA two legs or members a a pivoted together at b. To one of the members, as a, is attached a valve c, preferably by being pivoted thereto as shown. The other member a is preferably provided with projecting ears a2 a2 adapted to engage the frame of the sprinkler A and form stops to locate the valve c in line with the outlet of the sprinkler.

Secured to one leg of the device, as a', is a link Z preferably formed of elastic sheet metal and so as to constitute a spring, and provided with slots or openings d. To the other leg is secured a lug o-r projection c the end of which is preferably beveled as shown. Preferably a spring f is located hetween the legs a; a', said spring serving to keep the legs or members in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The mode of using the device is as follows: The device with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 is insert-ed within the frame of the sprinkler until the ears a2 a2 bring up against said frame, which will locate the valve 0 in line with the outlet of the sprinkler. By pressing or pulling the separated ends of the legs a atogether the opposite ends of said legs will be separated andvso as to force the valve c against the valve seat of the sprinkler, the sprinkler frame serving as an abutment. This operation causes the spring link l to pass along the beveled end of the lug e until when the valve is firmly seated said lug e will be caused to enter one of the slots cl, thereby4 holding the legs a a in the position shown in Fig. 3 and so as to hold the valve c to the valve seat'of the sprinkler. If desired the lug e instead of being rigidly secured to the leg a may be secured thereto by an easily fusible solder, and so that in case the device should be accidentally left in place until a fire should again break out, the melting of the solder would release the lug c and consequently release the valve and thereby permitting the device to fall out of place and thus insure the automat-ic opening of' the sprinkler.

As the closing device above described will require to be inserted in place while the sprinkler is operating and discharging a shower of water, and also because there may not beyat hand a step ladder or other means for enabling a person to conveniently reach the sprinkler, which is located near the ceiling, it will be desirable to provide some means for inserting the device from a `po-, sition upon the Hoor. Such means are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, said means consisting of a sta g provided with a socket g at its upper end adapted to receive a tang g2 secured to one of the legs a a. As the sprinklers, instead of being located upright above the pipe, are sometimes arranged to extend downward from the pipe, thereby reversing the position of the valve seat, it will be convenient to provide each of the legs a a with a tang g2, so that the closing device may belinserted in the staff g with the valve c in reversed position. A wire L arranged to slide in an eye 71. secured to the staff1 has itsV upper end bent over to form a hook h2 and so as to overlie the upper leg of the closing device as shown in Fig. 8. Preferably the socket g and the tangs g? are made rectangular in .shape to insure the insertion of the tang in the socket so as to bring the leg of the device in proper position to be engaged by the hook 71,2. rlhe lower end of the wire t is connected to a lever e' pivoted to the sta, which lever may be provided with a suitable handle. When the closing device is to be inserted in a sprinkler the proper tang g2 is inserted in the socket g, with the hook h2 overlying one of the legs a a, and by means of the stali" the operator is enabled to insert the device from the floor, as illustrated in Fig. 8. When the device has been properly located in the sprinkler to bring the valves c in line with the outlet, the lever c' is depressed, which causes a downward pull on the wire 7L and hook h2, thereby operating the underlying leg of the closing device to close the valve c against the valve seat in the sprinkler. Vhen the valve has been brought to its seat it will be held there by the engagement of the spring link l with the lug e. The hook 7b2 may then be raised and the staff withdrawn.

It is evident that the mechanical construction of the device and of the operating What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic sprinkler closer comprising two members, one adapted` to engage the frame of a sprinkler and the other provided with a valve for closing the sprinkler nozzle, one of said members being movable with relation to the other to force said valve against the valve-seatV of the sprinkler, means for holding the valve in position to close the sprinkler nozzle, and means for automatically releasing said valve in case of lire, substantially as described.

2. 'An automatic sprinkler closer comprising two members pivoted together, a valve connected to one of said members,and fusible means for connecting said members to hold said valve to the valve seat of a sprinklersubstantially as described..

3. An automatic sprinkler closer adapted to be inserted between thevalve seat and the opposing frame of an automatic sprinkler and comprising two members `pivoted together, a valve connected to one of said members, and means for connecting said members to hold said valve tothe valve seat of the sprinkler by the engagement ofthe other member with the frame Yof theY sprinkler, substantially as described.

4L. An automatic sprinkler closer comprising two members pivoted together, a valve connected to one of said members, and a spring catch for connecting said members beyond the pivot, substantially as described.

5. An automatic sprinkler closer comprising two members pivoted together, a valve connected to one of said members, acatch on one of said members and a spring'link connected to the other member and adapted to engage said catch, substantially as described. Y

6. An automatic sprinkler closer compris'- ing two members pivoted together, a valve connected to one of said members, a catch on one of said members, and a spring link connected to the other member and provided with a series ofopenings adapted to engage said catch, substantially as described.

7. The combination of an automatic sprinkler closer and a detachable staff adapted to receive said closer and by means of which closer may be located in position in a sprinkler, substantially as described.

8. The combination Vof an automatic sprinkler closer, a detachable staff adapted to receive said closer and by means o which the closer may be located in position in a sprinkler, and means for operatingthe closer to close the outlet ofsaid sprinkler, substantially as described.

9. rlhe combination of an automatic sprinkler closer, a stad adapted to receive said closer and by means of whichthe closer may be located in position in a sprinkler,

and a sliding member carried by said staii' y for operating the closer to close the outlet operating the closer, and a lever for operatof saidl1 lprinkle, substantilly as described. ing said sliding member.

10. e com ination o an automatic sprinkler closer, a staff adapted to receive LEONARD D' MOREY' 5 said closer and by means of Which the closer Witnesses:

may be located in position in a sprinkler, a C. E. DAVIS, sliding member Carried by said staff for l C. B. BUCKINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of VPatents, Washington, D. C.

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