US1137016A - Automatic sprinkler. - Google Patents

Description

C. P NUTTER.

. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER: APPLICATION HLED MAR. 9, 1908.

1,137,016., Patented Am: 27 1915.

. {UNITED s TATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. NUTTER, or MAIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNDR TO COMBINED HEAT &

srnnvxnnncomranr, or nosron, MASSACHUSETTS, A conronarron or massa- CHUSEITS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed March 9, 1908. Serial No. 419,868.

sprinklers such as are now extensively used 111 connection with automatic fire-extin-- guishing systems, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an automaticsprinkler which is especially adapted for use in connection with the sprinkler system described and illustrated in application Se.

'No. 318,814, filed May 26, 1906, by myself and John C'hatmain The system described in said application is a combined heating and sprinkler system, this combination being effected by mounting sprinkler heads on the circulating pipes of a heating system or, in other words, arranging a system whereby a heating medium can be circulated through the pipes to which the automatic sprinklers are attached. In a construction of this character it is desirable that the sprinkler heads or at least the fusible joint or link of the sprinkler head should be insulated from the pipe to which such sprinkler heads are attached so that said fusible joints will not be affected by the tem- 35. wise such fusible joint or connection might perature of the heating medium, for otherbe melted by the temperature of the heating medium and the sprinkler head would open and become operative when there Was no occasion for it to do so. I

In the present invention this' danger is avoided by so constructing the sprinkler head that the fusible connection or link which controls the operationof the sprinkler head is insulated from the body of the sprinkler and from the pipe so that the tem perature of said connection or joint will not be affected by the temperature of the heating medium in" the pipe.

Another novel feature of the present invention lies in the construction of the defiector. In most sprinkler heads the defiector is secured in a fixed position In the present invention the deflector is associated with the valve, and the valve is controlled by a suitable connection which in one position holds the valve to its seat and closes the outlet of the sprinkler head, and in another position holds the valve separated some distance from its seat. The deflector is made of resilient material and when the valve is held to its seat, said deflector is placed under tension sothat when the fusi-' ble connection melts the resiliency of the defiector lifts the valve from its seat and opens the sprinkler head. The valve and the defiector move together into a position 'sepa-' rated from the valve seat, in which position the deflector is properly situated to receive the stream of'water issuing from thenozzle and convert said stream into a spray.

In the drawings wherein Ihave illustrated several embodiments of my invention .for the purpose of disclosing the principle thereof, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a ,sprinkler head embodying the invention, said view showing the valve closed; Fig. 2'

is a similar sectional view showing the valve open; Fig. 3 is a section on the lines-w; Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3;,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing amodified form of the invention; Fig, 6 is a vertical sectional view showing still another modification of the invention; Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. fishowing a modification of the invention; Fig. 8 illustrates a length of a pipe of a combined heating and sprinkling system having my improved sprinkler heads mounted thereon; Fig. 9 illustrates still another embodiment of my invention; Fig. 10 is a detail of the levers shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 shows a diiferent form of. link or fusible connection from that shown in the other figures.

As stated above, one of the features of the sprinkler head is a COIIStIIICLiOl'I wherein the fusible connection is entirely insulated from the pipe towhichthe sprinkler head is securedso that any heat in the pipe will not be transmitted to said fusible connection through the parts of the'sprinkler head.

Another feature of the sprinkler head relates to the construction and the manner of supporting the deflector.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 3 is the body or valve seat member of the sprinkler head which is provided with the usual.

screw-threaded portion, by means of which it may be screwed to a pipe of the sprm kler system. Said valie seat member 3 is provided with the valve seat 6 on which is adapted to be seated a valve 7 as usual. These parts may be of any suitable or usual construction.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the valve 7 is carried by a head 8 which is'shown as having the screwthreaded stem 9. This stem has screw-threaded thereon a nut 10 to which is pivoted one end of two links 11, the other ends of said links being pivoted to blocks. 12. The blocks 12 have secured thereto arms 13, and said arms are also secured to the valve seat body 3, as at 14.. The arms 13 are preferably made of resilient metal so that when they are drawn together, as shown in Fig. 1, they Said arms are heldv will 'be under tension. in theposition shown in Fig; 1 by means of a fusible connection or joint which in this embodiment of. my invention comprises two L-shaped members 15which are soldered together at 16 by means of some suitable soft solder. Said members '15 when thus sol- I. deredtogether form a clip which by embracing the projections 17 of the heads 12 serve 'to hold said heads together in. the position shown in Fig. 1-, and thus hold the valve firmly to its seat. As stated above, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the fusible connection is completely insulated from the valve seat member 3 orfrom the pipe to which said 'member is attached. This is accomplished herein by interposing heat insulating material va1ve.-- Said deflector is shown at 22 and it" 18' between the clip formed by'the members 15 and the blocks 12, said insulating material acting to prevent any heat from being transmitted to the fusible link through 5 the arms 13 -or the links 11, as will be obvious. ing the fusible link or connection I prefer to interpose a layer 20 of insulating material between the arms 13 and the valve seat member 3, andalso to place a lever 21 of heatinsulating material between the valve 7 and the.head8.. In this way a double insulation isafi'orded between the valve seat member 3 and the fusible linkwhich will completely insulate said link or connection from any I heat in the pipe 5.

In my improved sprinkler head the deflector isassociated and 'moves with the is shown as secured to the head 8 bybeing confined between the-nut 10 and said head. -This' deflector is substantially cup-shaped and is preferably made of'resilient material. Its size and construction are such that when the valveis seated, as shown Fig. 1, the edge of the deflector rests firmly against the top of the flange 23 formed on the valve seat member 3,:and is flared outwardly-"slightly- As a means of still further insulatfiector 20'is under tension and the arms 13 are also under tension. The result is that as soon as the soft solder at-.'16 melts, the resili- 'ency of the arms 13 tends to separate the upper ends thereof and the resiliency of the deflector 22 tends to cause the latter with-the 7o valve is seated, as shown in Fig. 1, the devalve to spring away from the valve seat.

The result of this combined operation is that the blocks 12 move away from each other to permit the valve and deflector to be carried into the position shown in Fig. 2. While the deflector is moving into this position the arms 13 are separated beyond their neutral position as shown in dotted lines .Fig. 2, and the resiliency of said arms brings them back toward their neutral position, as shown in full lines Fig. 2. During this time, however, the force of the streain'of water has carried the deflector and valve into the position shown in Fig. 2, in whichposition it isheld by the arrangement of the links 11 and arms 13. When in this'position the deflector is properly situated to receive the'stream of water issuing from the port 24 in the valve-seat member 3 and to break said stream up into a spray.- The-closing of the valve, therefore, merely involves the reseating of the valve, and the applying and soldering together of the members 15. I i

In Fig. 5 I have shown an embodiment of the invention wherein rigid or non-yielding 2 arms are substituted for the resilient arms 13 of Figs. 1 and 2. In said Fig. 5 the valve i 7 is sustained by the'head 8, as shown in Fig. 1, and said head has a screw-threaded stem 9 to which the nut 10. is screwed, said nut having pivoted thereto one end of each of the links 11, all as shown in Fig. 1. The

upper end of said links, 1 er, are pivoted to arms 130, aims are provided with the projections 17. The lower ends of the arms 130 are pivoted at 25 tothe flange 23 6f the valve-seat member, and said arms have secured thereto resilient tails 26. The

upper ends of the arms 130 are normally held together in the position shown in Fig. 5

by the clip formed by the two L-shaped member. 15 which are soldered together at 16 by some suitable soft solder. This clip formed by the members 15 is insulated from the arms 130 by the blocks 18 of insulating material, all as above described with reference to Fig. 1. This embodiment also has the deflector 22 of resilient material which is carried by the head 8 and which is placed under tension when the valve is seated, as shown in the drawings.- -When the fusible solder at 16 melts the resiliency of the deflector 22 forces the latter awayfrom the rate suflicie'ntly at their upper ends to permit the deflector and valve ,to pass through between them. This outward swinging movement ofi said'arms 130 brings the resilienttails 26 against the valve seat member thus putting said tailsunder tension with the result that assoon as the deflector hasmoved up suflici'ently to carry the'links ll beyond the horizontal position, the resiliency of the tails 26 forces the upper ends of the arms inwardly,-thus,serving to hold the deflector in its elevated position." In this embodiment of my invention the arms 130 and the deflector 22 are preferably insulated fromfthe valve seatv member 3 by suitable insulating material '20.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a different embodiment of the invention'is illustrated wherein jthe compound lever arrangement is employed for maintaining the valve on its seat. In saidembodiment the valve seat memberfZ-l is provided with the valve seat 6 on which the valve Tis seated, and said valve is sustained by. a head.8 and has associated therewith'the deflector 22, .all as above described. The 17a lever '50is provided with a knife edge stem 9 of said head 8, however, is secured to rods or pins 31 that are secured to the flange 23 of the'valve seat member 3. Saidrods or pins 31 are provided with notches 32 which areengaged by the ends of two levers 33 and 34. :f The lever 333is provided with the fulcrum 'point 35, which is herein slibwn as engaging the end of the stem Q'and with another fulcrum point or knife edge 36 which away from its seat; I

Since the deflector is carried by the valve;

it is necessary to-providesome means for};

holding the deflector at .the proper position has a fulcrum edge 530 to-engage an end of rests against the lever 8a. The lever 34""has at one end a knife edge 37' which rests against a supplemental lever 38, said latterf lever havingat one end a knifeedge earn-aengages a projection dllez'rten'ding from the lever 33 The lever134 and supplemental lever 38. are provided with upwardly-directj ed fingers i1 and 42 which are adapted. to

be embraced by the clip compgsed'of the two members 15 connected together at 16'- bysoft solder or other fusible metal.- So long as the clip embraces the fingers 41, 42-, the valve will be held to its'seat, but ifsaid clip 'i s released from said fingers" thereis nothing r to hold the valve to. it'sseat and the resiliency of the deflec tor-22 will thr owthe valve to receive and convert into a spray the stream issuing from the sprinkler. In embodiment this is accomplished by prov d l-Zeach provided with an interior shoulder 43; Situated within each sleeve 4c2fis another sleeve 44 provided at one end .withan out turned "flange or shoulder 45, andat the other end with an 'inturned flange orshoulder 46. The. sleeves H telescope over the pins 31; and the latter .are provided with heads. 47 which are adapted to engage and cooperate with .the. shoulders 46. This telescopic constructionservesto guide the'head in its outward movement and also tolimit another layer of insulation 21 between the 1 valve-Tend the body 8, In this way perfect insulation is secured'b etween the valve seat member and the fusible joint or connection.-

vIn Fig, 7 I have shown amodification of the invention which is similar to that shownin Fig. 6 in every respect; except as to the construction of the compound lever. In Fag.

5:1'which rests onthe cross-head" 30fandtlie a cross-head 30 which is telescoped over end of the lever 50 rests against-knife edges 53 formed on, two levers 52L The outer ends of the levers 52 engagethe notches or. shoulders 32 formed'in the pins3'1, and the'inner ends of the levers 52 are embracejdmb y' the clip formed by the two members 15 wh ich are connected: together, at 16. by' the' soft solder or other fusible material. Said members 15 may also be insulated from the levers 52 bvjinsulating material 18. a The operation of the 'd evice shown in Fig. 7 is 'similar to ice that shown i Fig. 6. In the above embod v ment of inventio rthe fusiblezconnection' is offaconstructionto embrace'two projec tions and normally hold-therii irom spread:

.ing from each other: such'a'connection, being subjected to tension"?- 'In Fig. 9 li ihave shown ad arrangement wherein a fusible conne'ctioninthe formi'of a thrust member is employed,. ;-The general construction of the device shown inj jsaid figure is similar-t0}. that shown in Figs. 6

"and/7 in that it" comprises the cross head-30 which telescopes over the pins or rodsfil extending from the'valve-sea-t member. The crosshead 30 is held in position by a lever 50 provided with a ,fulcrum edge 51 which .1; engages the cross head. Said leveris acted upon by the two levers 520, "each of which thelever 50. The outer end ofeach lever -52( engages the notch 32 in the rod 31, as

described .with reference to Fig. 7, and the inner end ofi each lever overlaps that of, the

other lever and is bent upwardly as at 80.

81 which is in the form of a thrust member.

position showman Fig. 9. With this consti'uctionthe upward pressure on the valve will tendto indve the-upturned ends of the lever 520 toward each other and this'tendency is resisted by the fusible connection I In order that this thrust member may properly act on the upturned ends it 1s desir- -,,.able that the levers 520 should be oflt'set sufliciently, as shown in Fig. 10, sol'that the upturned ends may be inline with each other. The insulation between the fusible connection 81 and the levers 520 -may be secured in any suitable way, as by providing blocks 82 of, insulating material between the ends" of the'fusible connection. 8l 'and said arms "80. I

In Fig. 11 Ihave shown another .form of clip or fusible connection which might beused in place of that shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. This fusible connection com-.-

prises a-link 71 ofv fusible metal which is which is broken when said connection melts.- Theisignal-circuit may have any suitable .553

haveillustr'ated someiselected types of fusiadapted to be set over the upper ends of the projections 17, as shown in the deviceFigs. 17130 5, v or over theupper ends of the proections of the levers 41, 42, 'asshown in Fig. 6,--0I'-0Ve1 the upper ends of the levers 52, shown in Fig. 7. This link may be in-.

sulated from the levers or projections which it ties together by means of blocks 72 of insulating material. This link 71 may either be'made entirely of fusible metal or may be made in -one or more parts which are soldered together by. fusible metal. If desired" Imay provide the valve seat member Swith radial wings orfianges'GO-Which serve to increasethe radiatin lsurfaceof said member,an'd assist in in letting any heat which may be conducted to the memberfrom the he insulating material which. I employ while primarily fhavin the sulating from. heat Wlll pre erably be of such a material that it will be an electrical insulator also. Wheninsulating material of this character is u'sed,- the fusible connection will not only be-heat insulated from the other parts of the device, but will also be electrically insulated.- This is of advan tage because-said connection may be made part of-a signal circuitfil whichis normally close when the connections are intact but blemonnections for the purpose of giving an 3 understanding of the invention yet the iiivention is not'limitedto any'particularftype oi fusible conne'etionfi ber; 2. In an' automatic sprinkler, the combina" tion with a valve .seat member, of a valve uality of in- I- have shown herein several forms of fusible connections but my invention is not limited to any one or all of them.

I have not attempted te -show herein all,

embodiments of my invention, but have merely illustrated a'few embodiments which are sufiicient to disclose the principle of the invention. I

Having described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1.- In an automatic sprinklenthe combi- I v i nation witha'valve seat, member, ofa valve seated thereon, and means including a fusible connection to keep the valve seated, and means to heat insulate the fusible connection from both the valve and the valve seat mem seated thereon, valve-retaining means to keep the valveseated, said. means including an insulated fusible connection and means to insulate the valve-retaining means from the I valve seat member.

3'. In anautomatic sprinkler, the combination with a valve seat member, of a valve seated thereon, means to keep the valve seated, said means including an insulated fusible connection and means to. insulate said means from both the valve and the valve seat member.

4. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a valve seat member,- of a valve 1 seated thereon and heatdifi'using means as sociated with the valve seat member to diffuse and radiate any heat communicated thereto from the sprinklerpipe to which it is attached.

5. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination. with a valve seat member provided with heat-radiating flanges, of a valve seated thereon, and means to keep the valve seated.

6. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with avalve seat member provided I with heat-radiating flanges, of a valve seated thereon, and means heat-insulated from the valve seat member to keep the valve seatedl 7. In an automatic sprinklenfthe combination with a valve. seat member provide with heat-radiating flanges, of a valve seated thereon, and means heat-insulated from both the valve and the valve seat member to keep ,the valveseated.- Y

8. In an automatic sprinkler, th bi.-

nation with a valve seat member, of a valve adapted to be seated thereon, means to hold the valve to its seat, and a resilient deflector. secured to the valve andv shapedto be placed 1 under tension when thevvalve is seated. 9, In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a valve seat. member having" a flange, of a'v'alve adapted-tabs seatedthere 0n, means including a fusible cbnnection to holdthejalve .to ts seat, and 'a-defiector of resilient material secured to the valve and having a shape such that it will engage the flange of the valve seat member and be placed under tension when the valve is seated.

10. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a valve seat member, of a valve seated thereon, valve-retaining means to keep the valve seated, a fusible connection to hold said retaining means in operative position, means to insulate said valve-retalmng means from both the valve seat member and "the valve, and other means to insulate said fusible connection from the valve-retalmng means.

12. In an automatic sprinkler, the combi nation with a valve seat member, of a .valve seated thereon, valve-retaining means to keep the valve seated, means to insulate said valve-retaining means from the valve seat member, andv other means" to insulate said valve-retamlng means from the valve.

13. In an automatic sprinkler, the combi- 3o nation with a; valve seat member, of a valve seated thereon, means including a fusible connection to keep the valve seated, and two separate heat barriers arranged in series interposed betweenthe valve seat member and 35 the fusible connection.

14. In'an automatic sprinkler, the combi nation with'a valve seat member, of a valve seated thereon, valve-retaining means to keep the valve seated, a fusible connection to hold 40 the retaining meansin operative position,

means to insulate the retaining means from the valveseat memberjotlieiglnieans to insu late the ret'ainin'g;niieansfrom the valve, and

still other meansto insulate the fusible connection froni'jithe retaining means.

In'tes'ti'monyfwhereof, I have signed my name to this" specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, CHARLES P. NUTTER.

Witnesses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, MARGARET A.'DUNN.

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