US1608515A

US1608515A - Automatic sprinkler

Info

Publication number: US1608515A
Application number: US661504A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lowe Ernest Franklin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-09-07
Filing date: 1923-09-07
Publication date: 1926-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1943-11-30

Description

Nov. 30, 1926. v 1 608 515 E. F. LOWE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Sept. 7 1923 Fig.1.

anvcntoz Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNIT-ED STATES ERNEST FRANKLIN LOWE, OF PLAINFIELI), NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed September 7, 1923. i Serial No. 661,504.

My invention relates more specifically to the heat actuated means for putting a sprinkler head in operative condition.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved sprinkler head of simple and durable construction, which will remain operative during long periods of time without being subject to corrosion or other injurious action tending to retard the automatic action of the head; to provide an improved sprinkler head which will respond promptly to a predetermined rate-of-increase in temperature in excess of the normal rate of temperature increase, but which will remain inoperative under normal temperature changes; to provide an improved releasing means for sprinkler heads.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an automatic sprinkler head constructed in accordance with my invention Figure 2 is a vertical section of a typical form of my improved releasing means, somewhat enlarged;

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of my invention comprises a tubular base 1, a yoke 2 preferably integral therewith and vertical thereto. The tubular base 1 is open at both ends and the lower end may be threaded as shown at 3 for connection to fire extinguishing fluid supply pipe (not shown}. The upper end 1 of the tubular base 1 is normally closed by a fluid tight valve or cap 5, or other suitable means, held normally in place by two opposed strut members 6 and 7, one placed above and supported by the other in some such manner as shown in Fig. 1. against some such point in the yoke 2 as 8 through which a tension adjusting screw 9 extends and contacts with the upper strut.

The outer ends of the struts may be pro- -vided with opposed hook-

like members

10 and 11. In the typical construction a fixed temperature fusible link connects the

hooklike members

10 and 11, tension sufficient to hold cap 5 fluid tightis applied through tension screw 9. Thus far I have simply shown a typical constructionperfectly fa miliar to those even casually acquainted with the art. In my invention I connect the

members

10 and 11 bythe member shown in Fig. 2 wherein, in,.oneform of adaptation of my invention, 12 is a capsule of more or less readily fracturable ;material, such as some form of glass, separated into The upper strut bearscompartments, as 13 and 14, by the dividng wall 15 but which compartments are interconnected, as by the orifice 16. The

lower compartment 14 is completely filled and the upper compartment 13 is filled to a predetermined extent with any one of the well known liquids having a high coeflicient of expansion such as alcohol, leaving some such space as 1? empty. The capsule 12 may be provided at either end with extended

portions

18 and 19 wherein are openings as 20 and 21 which engage the

members

10 and 11 of the struts 6 and 7 In the as sembled head shown the capsule 12 is sealed against the atmosphere after being supplied with the expansile liquid as indicated; after the closure means 5 is in place the struts 6 and 7 are placed as indicated and the memthereby freeing the struts 6 and 7 and releas ng the closure means Sipermitting the restrained fire extinguishing fluid to be discharged against the usual deflector plate shown above the member 8 and he difi'used over a more or less definite area.

It is well known that liquids expand at a rate which is in definite relation to the amount of heat applied to them. hence it the volume of the liquid contained in 14 is increased more rapidly than it can escape through 16 pressure will be built up in 14 and' the capsule 12 will be ruptured. It will at once be seen that the compartment 1 1 and the releasing vent 16 comprise a thermostat dependent upon the rate-of-temperature-increase and not upon any 'fixed temperature being attained. Inasmuch as the capacities of 13 and 1 1, the area of 16, the

.volume of 17 and the liquid used in 12 are On the other hand, by diminishing the area of 16 the bulb or capsule may be made to rupture with an increase of temperature at a rate less than the rate which would be required to rupture it when the area is larger. Hence by adjustment of the size of the vent or orifice through which the expanding liquid may escape-from compartmentl4 the device may be made to remain inoperative under rates of change of te1nperature accompanying normal rates of temperature changes and will, be made to rupture and release the extinguisher when a temperature change occurs at a greater than the normal or permissible rate. At the same time the device will operate upon the attainment of a fixed or absolute temperature sufficiently high, as in the case of a slow fire, although that temperature may be attained by a slow rate of rise, the rupture of the bulb occurring in this instance when the compensation afforded by the passage of the liquid into the partially filled compartment and the compression of the air or vapor in the air space 17 has been exhausted.

It will at once be seen that bv varying one or more of the element siof 12 that I produce a detaining or thermostatic controlling member which will operate upon any desired predetermined rate of increase of temperature but which will remain inoperative under rates of change accompanying normal temperature changes while the device still remains capable of functioning on the attainment of a dangerousfixed or absolute temperature of predetermined amount however reached, that is to say, by an equal rate of rise or by a slower rate.

'It is to be understood that, although -I have shown and'described one construction and method of use, I do not limit myselfto the form, use, materials, number, shape or size of parts nor to the method of assembly I or connection of parts. The member 12 may be used either as a compression or tension res'sting member and may be separated into any number of compartments inter-communicating in any feasible manner.

I claim: 1 1.- A thermostatic link comprising a breakable capsule divided into a plurality of chambers intercon'imunicating through a compensating vent, said capsule being partially filled with an expansile liquid.

2. A rate-of-temperature-increase thermostat comprising a capsule divided into a plurality of chambers intercommunicating through a compensating vent, said capsule being partially filled with an expansile liquid 3. A thermostat comprising a capsule sealed aga nst the atmosphere and divided into a plurality of chambers intercommuni, cating through a compensating vent and containing expansile liquid.

4. A sprinkler head link comprising a breakable capsule divided into a plurality of chambers and containing expansile fluid adapted to rupture the capsule by expansion 'thercof in one chamber filled with said fluid and having a restricted outlet leading to an:

one to the other.

ERNEST FRANKLIN LOWE.