US1634838A

US1634838A - Fire-protective device

Info

Publication number: US1634838A
Application number: US741753A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert J Loepsinger
Original assignee: General Fire Extinguisher Co
Current assignee: General Fire Extinguisher Co
Priority date: 1924-10-04
Filing date: 1924-10-04
Publication date: 1927-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1944-07-05

Description

July 5, 1927.

A. J. LOEPS'INGER FIRE PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed 00L 4, 1

, INVENTOR l/erf [[aepahya BY fidmflw,

, alt KW ATTORNEYS Patented July 5, 1927.

uarrnrsrrss 'AJEJBERT J. LOEPSINGER, OF IEOVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL OIE EROVIDENCE, Rl-IODE ISLAND, A CORPORA- FIEE EXTZNGUISHER COMPANY, TION OF DELAWARE.

rare

FIRE-PROTECTIVE DEVICE;

Application filed ectober 4, 1924. Serial 110,741,753.

This invention relates to improvements in lire protective devices. -Ettore particularly it relates to devices for protecting a wall, such as the outside wall oi? lmilding, from adjacent lire. It has already been proposed for such purposes to provide a row of sprinklers at the cornice which should dis charge water in thin sheets spreading over. and running down threatened walls; but to be in such )rotection with theoroximit out danger requires so great an expenditure from the water supply as is likely to the reserve of water too severelyh'l lence such curtainsliave not been frequently installed; but no wayhas been known to provide satisfactorily for the desired protection, so far as I am aware.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for such protection with economy of'water; to deter the expenditure ot' water until actual need lll'lSGS, to" permit the preiarator turnin on of water in the s st'emwhen the danger is imminentor may pos sibly arise, without actual discharge and yet without danger of freezing when standing ready, and to this end to set the nozzle, valve,

and waiting water in location'not exposed to danger of freezing, but protected by the buildingyet with'the distribution occurring inshe'eti orm spread 03 e1 the-enterioror the endangered part'ol' the wall, as for ex ample, over any window, and to select automatically, according to need, the partswhich are to be protected. I y

To this end the invention employs a new type of automatic sprinkler andan arrange ment-thereot by which. its valve and nozzle are set inside, of the building, preferably with the nozzle retracted from the valve,

"with a discharge tube extending thence outward through the wall ot the building, as, for example, through the upper frame of the window sash, and n'owded-outside with a deflector which.distributes the issuing jet in sheet form over the window or other portion of wall below it. lhe part which projects through the wall is a relatively large tubethrough which the from the nozzle passes out as a free jet through air, unconlined.. It is subjected to exterior atmospheric conditions and provided'with atrans verse partition or door which is normally closed. Exterior heat from-an adjacent lire may pass-by conduction through the metal outside of the deflector. may be a light plate hinged across the'inner' of the deflector and tube tot-he strut of the sprinkler, and may be augmented by such C heat as passes through the closed window.

The heat of each part of a Wall becomes considcrable before there is real danger of ignition, or oi rracture or window glass from the heat; and any such temperature sends heatin by conduction in sufiicient quantity and temperature to cause an automatic heat responsive valve to open and the jet to issue from within the building, while the window remains closed and before the'glassis broken. This is aided and made certain in the presout case by the heat gathering eli'ect or the The said partition cally opposite bars which hold the parts rigidly together yet allow ample space for access to said strut andvalve; and a plug may be provided for access .to the interior space behind the valve. In ordinary usage the pipes leading to theinozzles of a series of such sprinklers may stand empty of water; but on the occurrence of a fire in the neighborhood water may be admitted thereto by the opening ot a main valve by hand; whereupon all parts of the system are ready tor the automatic starting of a water cur j tain in any section where it is needed, when ever is needed, without the wastage which occurs from the anticipatory starting of such over the whole wall according to methods hitherto employed.

The invention may be embodied in various forms, one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty'exist in the invention disclosed. I V

lnthe accompanying drawings: Y s Figure l is a. medial longitudinal section through a single sprinkler, tube and defiector; v

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the same, with part in section;

is a transverse section through Figure at is a view on a smaller scale showing a fragn'rent ot a building with the apparatus installed.

Referring to the drawings ll) represents the wall of a. building which is to be protected, l1 an apartment therein with lloo 12 and window 13. The ap niratus ot the invention is contained in the lube ll a location For which is seen in lrigure l, while the tube itself is seen on a .lrgcr scale '1: the other figures. This tube is adapted l be inserted lron'i the outside through the wall of the building and may be ol ah suitable length according to the ihlrlnn oi the wall. As illustrated, i! isarran to pass merely through the r h ol the window 13. 11c tube l=crrvvs it: The inner and ot ll 1 upon and is supported b :e intern l... which is a part cit or cont-aim an autumn; 2c sprinkler, the other part ll). oj j which. us

is common with sprinklers, screws into a. system oil. water distribution piping .11. The sprinkler has a nmzlc in oi suitable type to project a jet of water. ".lluwho of the sprinkler, and the means for luihliug the valve closed until rclea'ised by heat may be oil any suitable type, the ron.-- trni-.;ion illustrated being made on the principle oi? one that well hnowu in the market in which there is a llexihle diaphi s n ill with a central hole :lor p:

age ol the jet, and the valve a body fill sealed in said hole and nulintainml scaled by the s n-lug pressure of the diaphragm outward against it, and through it against the l'usible nlrul which in turn is supported on a bridge consisting of a sharp edged. bar which, although it in the path of the jet. ull'ords but little resistance to it owing to the keenness of its edge and curvature as seen at 12.

The fixture 15 has two parallel ring portions (1,, b, separated ill] a little distance and connected by side bars 0 which constitute ties in opposing the pressure transnuttel through the strut. The provision (it side opening between the ring portions perlnits the valve and its strut ill to lull out when released, thrrclirv leaving a clear way for the voter to d m-barge as a jet through casing ll. Par g thus in a jet, the water has no tendency to escape lhrounh these openings. 'lluxir presence lmwevcr, while the sprinkler is readv and waiting to be called into action, perlnil's tree circulation oi rooln atmosphere about the valve 20 and its strut- Ell, so that the warmth and intimate contact of this air with the outer face ol" the valve minimize the clli'ecl of cold from out of doors, which might otherwise :lfrceze the water at the valve. :Ihi: its end next to the nozzle the ring o oi' this fitting compresses and holds the diaphriui ni 19. The ring Z: which is remote from ti t. nozzle holds the delivery tube Ll: Whirl: screwed upon it, and chimed by an out ma tose side llap 23 which hangs by gravity and could be held by a light spring if desired. 'lhis tlap constitutes a door which ordinarilv prevents circulation of air between the inside of the building through the tube ll. llt is so light, however, that it is in'nnediatoly opened by the jet when the jet issues from the nozzle 18 and does not substantially alloct the strength of that jet.

'lhe tip ll ol the tube lxl: is bent downward outside of the building and dellcets the jet, through an angle apprmiching 180 degrees, so that it is thereby thrown back ward upon the exterior of the window or adjacent part of the building. The deflector may have any desired shape, either to produce a sputtering or a smooth lihn distribution of the water according to the desired result.

For inspection, and to aid in setting the parts, a plug is placed reinovably in the side oi the chamber between the nozzle .18 and the valve 20 oi the sprinkler.

In operation, any heat which is trans- .niitted from without, through the wall or through the tube 14; to the heat responsive strut ol' the sprinkler causes that to yield in the ordinary manner, after which water issues from the nozzle 18 assuming that it has been previously turned on, when danger becomes manifest; but it does not flow from any nozzles except those where the heat is enough to require it, nor begin to ilow until the heat requires it, thus greatly conserving supply of water.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lire protective device for the exterior. oi a building comprisin in eo1nl.)ination, a nozzle with deflector tor its jet, adapted to be set with said nozzle inside of and said deflector outside of the building, arranged to return the jet to -ard and spread it over the outside of the building wall; and a heat responsive valve for the nozzle, the heat responsive element of which is ananged within the building in position to receive heat through the wall from a tire outside.

A lire protective device for the exterior of a building comprising, in combination, a nozzle with deflector for its jet, adapted to be set with said nozzle inside oland said detlector outside of the building, there being between the nozzle and deflector an opening through a wall 01 the building and a passage through said opening for the said jet, said deflector being arranged to return the jet to vvard and spread it over the outside oil. the bulding wall; and a yielding closure lor the passage between the nozzle and the deflector, adapted to be opened by the jet.

:3. A the protective device tor the exterior oi. a building comprisin in combination, a nozzle with deflector :ltor its jet, adapted to be set with said nozzle inside 01"". and said reassess deflector outside: of the! building, arranged to return the jet. toward spread it over the; outside: of the building wall; and a tube extending through the receiving the jet from the nozzle and surrounding and guiding it to the deflector;

, LA fire protective device comprising a supply pipe with nozzle,. valve therefor and heat responsive means controlling the valve, all completelyiwithiar a. building and: arranged: to discharge-a jet through a wall thereof; a. deflector outside. thebuilding adapted to spread the said jet over the outside of the wallrthe. whole; being located in position to receive. heat froma. fire outside of the building and thereby to. be opened and to distribute its jets over the outside. of said wallt 5. A fire protectivedevice for the exterior of a building, Comprising in combination, a nozzle, a tube adapted to pass throughv the wall of a building and arranged in line forthe jet from the nozzle to pass through the tube, a deflector at the outer end of the Q tube adapted to turn the jet toward the face of the wall and aself closing door within the tube, adapted to open outward, yielding with such slight pressure as to .let the jet pass substantially unimpeded.

6. A fireprotective device for a wall comprising, in combination, a nozzle on one side of the wall, a tube surrounding and permitting free passage of the jet therefrom, adaptedv to extend through the wall, and a deflector for the jet on the other side of the wall arranged to return it to the wall; the said nozzle having a heat responsive valve adapted to close the nozzle, there being a permanent opening for theescape of the valve from the course of the jet after the valve has yielded in response to heat.

'7. A fire protective device for a wall comprising, in combination, a nozzle on one side of the wall, a tube surrounding and permitting free passage of the jet therefrom, adapted to extend through the wall, and a deflector for the jet on the other side of the wall arranged to return it to the wall; there being a valve, normally held closed by heat responsive means, arranged at a' little distance from the nozzle in the line of its jet; the space between said nozzle and valve being fully enclosed for holding water and having a removable section of wall.

8. A fire protective device for a wall comprising, in combination a tube adapted, to pass through the wall and having on one side of the wall a nozzle with a heat responsive valve and on the other side of the wall a deflector for the jet of the nozzle; there being a bridge across the interior of the tube adapted'to support a strut for holding the valve closed, and adapted to afford but little resistance to the jet when the strut is removed.

9.. Afire protective: device. fora wall eo1n-- prising, in combination, a. tube. of heat. conducting material adapted to. extend through end a deflector for turning the; jet. from the nozzle back upon the wall; the said; tube affording a course for heat from a fire on the deflector side of the wall to pass to; the heat responsive valve.

10.. A the protective device for await com.- prising, in combination, anozzle with a heat responsive valve and; tube leading: thence. through the wall; and a deflector for the jet at the further end of the tube ;1 said tube and deflector being made of heat. con.- dueting material and having a relatively large area thereof, compared the heat responsive area of the valve, exposed to heat from a fire on its side of the wall whereby a considerable quantity of heat is received and transmitted by the tube to the heat responsive valve. 7

11. A fire protective device for a wall having a passage through it comprising, in combination, a nozzle with a heat responsive wall; the said valve, thermal element, and

closure of the passage through the wall being removable by the jet of water upon the yielding of said member in response to heat.

,12. A fire protective device for the 6Xt6' rior of a building comprising, in combination, a nozzle adapted to be set within the building, a valve and thermally responsive strut arranged within the building and open to atmospheric conditions therein, and a tube passing through the building wall; and a deflector outside thereof for distribution of the jet upon the wall of the building; the-whole combination being arranged in three sections comprising respectively the nozzle, the valve and strut holding member, and the tube and deflector member.

13. A fire protective device comprising the combination, with a nozzle adapted to pass a jet through the wall and a tube and de flector adapted to guide the jet'throughand to the face of the wall, of a housing intervening between the nozzle and the tube,

screw threaded to the body having the nozzle, and containing a valve with a heat rewithin the building, and a deflector outside the building; there being uh opening through a wail oi the building for the jet from the nozzle to reach the dei ieetor, and. the whole being so urrui'iged, adupied and located that the heart from a the outside can reach and release the said heart i.'e;--tponsire valve within.

15. A lire protertire device for the exte rior of a building ronipris-dng, in COIillJiYlth tion with the well oi: the building, it nozzle with detieetor for its jet, set with suid nozzle inside of and said deiieetor outside of the building, arranged to return the jet toward and spread it over the outside oi the building well.

16, A the protective deriire tor the exterior of at building comprising, in munbinu tion with the wnii oi the building, it nozzle inside of the wall; a, straight tube extending through the will in the direction of the jet from the nozzle and large enough to :diord unimpeded passage for the jet; and e deflector outeide of the well, at the end oi. the tube arranged and adapted to turn the jet toward the other side of the wall.

171A [ire proteetive device for a well comprising, in COlillJil'ifliliOll with the well, :1 nozzle with deiieetor for its jet, set with said nozzle on one side of the wall and said detier-tor on the other side of the wail, urrunged to return the jet tmvzufd and spread it over said other side oi. the well.

Signed at Boston, Mueuuehusetts, this first day of October, 1921-.

ALBER'J. J. LOEPSII'NGER.