US1978623A - Sprinkler head - Google Patents

Sprinkler head Download PDF

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US1978623A
US1978623A US560204A US56020431A US1978623A US 1978623 A US1978623 A US 1978623A US 560204 A US560204 A US 560204A US 56020431 A US56020431 A US 56020431A US 1978623 A US1978623 A US 1978623A
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water
valve
housing
sprinkler
head
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US560204A
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Walter B Clifford
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CLIFFORD MANUFACTURING Co
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CLIFFORD Manufacturing CO
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/08Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
    • B05B12/10Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged

Definitions

  • the p present invention relates to sprinkler heads, and more particularly to this type of apparatus employed for generating spray for shower heads or the like.
  • Thepurpose of the invention is to produce a comparatively simple, practical and instantaneously operative shower head which serves to cut off the flow of water through the head upon occurrence of excessive temperatures.
  • the water supply is continuously flowing through the chamber head and about the thermostatic valve in such 45 a fashion that the latter is at all times instantly responsive to the temperature of water as controlled by the mixing valve.
  • cooling of the water due to 50 operation of the mixing valve is instantaneously reflected because ofthe. continuous flow of water, causing the vent to close and restoring the sprinkler head to its normal mode of operation.
  • My valve is furthermore designed to avoid any possibility of leakage of hot water through the usual spray device during the period that the vent is in operation. This I accomplish by providing virtually a dam which insures that the entire supply of water shall pass through the vent when the latter is opened.' due to excessively high temperatures.
  • Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly in section of the improved sprinkler head
  • Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sprinkler head shown in Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the valve shown in Fig. 1
  • Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the limiting stop for the thermostatically operated valve.
  • a housing 10 which may be a brass casting, a die casting, or conceivably a forging, the head being provided with the usual sprinkler cap 12 having a perforated surface 14.
  • This cap is threaded to the housing at 16, and has therebehind a chamber 18 co-extensive with the sprinkler surface to distribute 'water thereover, the chamber 18 being supplied with water for the sprinkler cap through a passage 19 cored or otherwise formed in the housing 10.
  • This passage is controlled in the usual fashion through a rotatable cock valve 21, having an externally attached handle 22 to operate the valve and meter the flow of water through the sprinkler head.
  • the rear portion of the housing l0 is provided with a threaded extension 24, which may be connected to the usual service connection 26 through a sleeve 28.
  • a threaded extension 24 may be connected to the usual service connection 26 through a sleeve 28.
  • the valve is ideally adapted for replacement, as the usual sprinkler head may be removed and my improved type of head mounted thereon by merely unscrewing the coupling.
  • the sprinkler head may be mounted at any angle through the employment of the ball support 30, the member 26 normally projecting from the pipe connection in a horizontal direction, and the adjustment of the sprinkler head as a rule causing the perforated surface of the cap to be maintained at an angle which may be 45 more or less from a horizontal plane.
  • This bellows unit is preferably fllled with a liquid which is volatile at the temperatures employed, which may be on the order of 100 to 105 F. Such a liquid develops substantial vapor pressures at these temperatures and causes the bellows unit to expand actively in a manner to open or unseat the disk valve 42, which is connected therewith through a stem 44.
  • This disk valve normally seats upon a valve ring 46, and when unseated serves tovent water directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34 through a funnel-shaped outlet 48. Due to the area of the vent outlet and the fact that it discharges -directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34,
  • the venting of the water immediately indicates to the operator the existence of excessive temperatures, and as the mixing valve is then manipulated to reduce the temperature, this water, reduced in temperature, is caused to impinge upon the bellows, closing the valve and restoring the normal operation of the sprinkler head.
  • the passage 19 may be closed by a light flap valve in the form of -a leaf spring anchored at 52, the free end of this valve closing the end of the passage 19.
  • the pressure within the chamber 34 and the communicating passages 38 and 19 is controlled bythe pressure within the system, which is amply suilicient to maintain this valve open and permit the free ow of water to the sprinkler cap.
  • the passage 19 is immediately reduced, causing the valve to close and insuring against any possible leakage of water through the sprinkler head itself.
  • the thermostatically-controlled valve unit may be simple and conveniently made from stampings, as indicated in the drawing, the bellows being anchored at the upper end by a U-shaped strap 62, which is connected at its opposite free ends to a plate 64 in which the valve opening 46 is provided.
  • the legs of this strap are slotted at 66, and the valve stem is provided with a limiting member 70, connected to the stem and engaged at opposite ends by the slots, this strap serving to limit the free movement of the bellows and valve under the creation of excessive temperatures. Without some such limiting device, the excessive vapor pressure created by contact with hot water might otherwise expand the bellows suillciently to cause injury.
  • the valve disk 42 is connected to the stem 44 through the medium of a threaded sleeve 68, which permits a relative adjustment of the valve disk with respect to the stem and provides a means for regulating the venting temperature of the sprinkler head.
  • the entire thermostatic valve assembly is conveniently demountably supported Within the housing 10 through engagement with the demountable vent member 48, which is provided with shoulders engaging and clamping the plate 64.
  • the vent is connected to the housing through cap screws 75, and upon removal of the vent the valve assembly may be removed complete without dismantling ⁇ the sprinkler head.
  • the vent serves todirect hot water vdirectly down into the space therebeneath and away from the person standing in the range of the shower.
  • the vent serves todirect hot water vdirectly down into the space therebeneath and away from the person standing in the range of the shower.
  • the bellows unit in lthis apparatus may be satisfactorily lled with a mixture of acetone and ether, or some equivalent fluid affording sufficient vapor pressure to impart the desired activity tothe bellows throughout the operating range, which may approximate 100 to 105 F. or thereabouts.
  • a fill causing operation of the bellows by liquid expansion might conceivably be employed within the bellows, nevertheless such a illl would not be as active, nor give as instantaneous response both to raising and lowering of the temperature, as in the case of afill boiling at temperatures below the working range" i What is claimed is:
  • a sprinkler head comprising a housing having a control chamber therein, a perforated sprinkler surface, a circuitous passage connecting the sprinkler surface with the control chamber, a water inlet leading directly to the control chamber, avvalve normally closing the passage except when pressure is created therein, a vent communicating directly with the control chamber, and thermostatically operated means within the chamber for regulating the delivery of water through the vent.
  • a sprinkler head comprising a housing. having a sprinkler surface connected therewith, a water inlet communicating with the housing, a second and vent opening from the housing, means for thermostatically controlling the flow of water either through the sprinkler surface or the vent 13,0
  • a pressure operated valve for preventing delivery of water to the sprinkler surface upon reduction of pressure within the housing due to diversion of waterthrough the second opening.
  • a sprinkler head comprising a chamber having a water inlet opening thereinto, sprinkling and diversion outlets, a valve vcontrolling the dif version outlet, and a thermostatically fllledbellows connected with the valve. and positioned opposite the inlet and subjected directly to water entering therethrough, ⁇ the bellows being -arranged to normally hold the valve closed against water pressure within the chamber and to open the valve with the pressure upon exceeding a predetermined temperature range therein.
  • a sprinkler head comprising a housing, a water inlet connected to the housing, a water sprinkler outlet, a diversion outlet, andv a bellows and valve assembly detachablymounted in the diversion outlet and normally sealing the outlet against the escape of water therethrough, the valve being designed to .open with pressure upon exceeding a predetermined temperature range within the chamber.
  • a sprinkler head comprising a housing, water sprinkling means connected with the housing, a water inlet to the housing, a diversion outlet, a bellows within the housing, a valve connected with the bellows and designed to normally yclose the diversion outlet against pressure within the housing, and means for adjusting the valve with relation to the bellows to varyy the temperature within the housing at which the valve opens.
  • a sprinkler head comprising a housing, a

Description

'@ct. 30, 1934. W B. CLIFFORD SPRINKLER HEAD File-d Aug. 29, 1931 [lllr Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER HEAD Application August 29, 1931, Serial No. 560,204
8 Claims.
The p present invention .relates to sprinkler heads, and more particularly to this type of apparatus employed for generating spray for shower heads or the like.
Thepurpose of the invention is to produce a comparatively simple, practical and instantaneously operative shower head which serves to cut off the flow of water through the head upon occurrence of excessive temperatures.
I accomplish this result by locating within the chamber formed by the shower head itself, temperature-controlled apparatus which operates a vent or relief valve normally closed but instantaneously operated upon occurrence of excessive temperature within the water passing through the head. This vent directs the water in a direction away from the person standing beneath the shower, and insures against `any contact with excessively hot water. I appreciate that suggestions have been made heretofore for safeguarding against the passage of hot water through a -shower head, but so far as I am infomed, all of these prior proposals are virtually ineffective and wholly impractical due to the fact that they completely terminate the flow of water through the head. Although such an arrangement may or may not be practical for terminating the flow of water through the head upon occurrence of excessive temperatures, they fail in their intended purpose because they do not serve to immediately restore the flow of water upon reduction of temperature to normal conditions, this due to the fact that cutting off the flow of water through the head merely serves to develop or build up a leg of hot water between the head and regulating valve, this' hot water serving to heat the head itself and connected parts, and maintain an excessively high temperature for substantial periods after the water has either been cut olf entirely or has been reduced to a normal temperature.
By virtue of my construction, the water supply is continuously flowing through the chamber head and about the thermostatic valve in such 45 a fashion that the latter is at all times instantly responsive to the temperature of water as controlled by the mixing valve. After having initially opened the vent due to the presence of excessively hot water, cooling of the water due to 50 operation of the mixing valve is instantaneously reflected because ofthe. continuous flow of water, causing the vent to close and restoring the sprinkler head to its normal mode of operation.
My valve is furthermore designed to avoid any possibility of leakage of hot water through the usual spray device during the period that the vent is in operation. This I accomplish by providing virtually a dam which insures that the entire supply of water shall pass through the vent when the latter is opened.' due to excessively high temperatures.-
In the accompanying drawing illustrating th preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly in section of the improved sprinkler head; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sprinkler head shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the valve shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the limiting stop for the thermostatically operated valve.
In the sprinkler head shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a housing 10 is provided which may be a brass casting, a die casting, or conceivably a forging, the head being provided with the usual sprinkler cap 12 having a perforated surface 14. This cap is threaded to the housing at 16, and has therebehind a chamber 18 co-extensive with the sprinkler surface to distribute 'water thereover, the chamber 18 being supplied with water for the sprinkler cap through a passage 19 cored or otherwise formed in the housing 10. This passage is controlled in the usual fashion through a rotatable cock valve 21, having an externally attached handle 22 to operate the valve and meter the flow of water through the sprinkler head.
The rear portion of the housing l0 is provided with a threaded extension 24, which may be connected to the usual service connection 26 through a sleeve 28. With this construction the valve is ideally adapted for replacement, as the usual sprinkler head may be removed and my improved type of head mounted thereon by merely unscrewing the coupling. As indicated, the sprinkler head may be mounted at any angle through the employment of the ball support 30, the member 26 normally projecting from the pipe connection in a horizontal direction, and the adjustment of the sprinkler head as a rule causing the perforated surface of the cap to be maintained at an angle which may be 45 more or less from a horizontal plane.
'I'he incoming supply of water for the sprinkler head is directed through a passage 32 into the control chamber 34, the passage being caused .to communicate directly with the chamber by a sleeve 36 inserted in the housing. Communication between the chamber 34 and the supply coner portion of the chamber 34, this v1:-== e 38 being separated from the inlet passage through the sleeve 36. Incoming water is caused to impinge directly upon a bellows thermostat 40, mounted within the chamber 34 opposite the inlet passage so that this unit is caused to accurately reflect the temperature of the incoming water at a point considerably in advance of the point at which this body of water reaches the sprinkler cap. This bellows unit is preferably fllled witha liquid which is volatile at the temperatures employed, which may be on the order of 100 to 105 F. Such a liquid develops substantial vapor pressures at these temperatures and causes the bellows unit to expand actively in a manner to open or unseat the disk valve 42, which is connected therewith through a stem 44. This disk valve normally seats upon a valve ring 46, and when unseated serves tovent water directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34 through a funnel-shaped outlet 48. Due to the area of the vent outlet and the fact that it discharges -directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34,
the entire supply entering the chamber is immediately vented without permitting any of the supply to be delivered to the sprinkler cap through the passages 38 and 19. The venting of the water immediately indicates to the operator the existence of excessive temperatures, and as the mixing valve is then manipulated to reduce the temperature, this water, reduced in temperature, is caused to impinge upon the bellows, closing the valve and restoring the normal operation of the sprinkler head. The passage 19 may be closed by a light flap valve in the form of -a leaf spring anchored at 52, the free end of this valve closing the end of the passage 19. In the normal operation oi the sprinkler head the pressure within the chamber 34 and the communicating passages 38 and 19 is controlled bythe pressure within the system, which is amply suilicient to maintain this valve open and permit the free ow of water to the sprinkler cap. Upon venting of the system through pressure within, the passage 19 is immediately reduced, causing the valve to close and insuring against any possible leakage of water through the sprinkler head itself.
The thermostatically-controlled valve unit may be simple and conveniently made from stampings, as indicated in the drawing, the bellows being anchored at the upper end by a U-shaped strap 62, which is connected at its opposite free ends to a plate 64 in which the valve opening 46 is provided. The legs of this strap are slotted at 66, and the valve stem is provided with a limiting member 70, connected to the stem and engaged at opposite ends by the slots, this strap serving to limit the free movement of the bellows and valve under the creation of excessive temperatures. Without some such limiting device, the excessive vapor pressure created by contact with hot water might otherwise expand the bellows suillciently to cause injury.
The valve disk 42 is connected to the stem 44 through the medium of a threaded sleeve 68, which permits a relative adjustment of the valve disk with respect to the stem and provides a means for regulating the venting temperature of the sprinkler head. This Will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The entire thermostatic valve assembly is conveniently demountably supported Within the housing 10 through engagement with the demountable vent member 48, which is provided with shoulders engaging and clamping the plate 64. The vent is connected to the housing through cap screws 75, and upon removal of the vent the valve assembly may be removed complete without dismantling `the sprinkler head.
As will be evident from an inspection of the drawing, if the sprinkler head as a unit is mounted at an angle of approximately 45, which is the `usual mounting of this type ofapparatus,' the vent serves todirect hot water vdirectly down into the space therebeneath and away from the person standing in the range of the shower. By the same token, regardless of whatever adjustment may be given thesprinkler head, a person standing within the range of water delivered through the surface 14 will be entirely without the range of the stream delivered from the vent 48, so that there can be no liability of danger of scalding or burning therefrom. -On the other hand, the instant that the relief valve opens to permit ow of water directly from the lower portion of the chamber 34, there is no further possibility of water being delivered throughthe perforatedsurface of the sprinkler cap, eliminating the hazard therefrom.
The bellows unit in lthis apparatus may be satisfactorily lled with a mixture of acetone and ether, or some equivalent fluid affording sufficient vapor pressure to impart the desired activity tothe bellows throughout the operating range, which may approximate 100 to 105 F. or thereabouts. Although yafill causing operation of the bellows by liquid expansion might conceivably be employed within the bellows, nevertheless such a illl would not be as active, nor give as instantaneous response both to raising and lowering of the temperature, as in the case of afill boiling at temperatures below the working range" i What is claimed is:
1. A sprinkler head comprising a housing having a control chamber therein, a perforated sprinkler surface, a circuitous passage connecting the sprinkler surface with the control chamber, a water inlet leading directly to the control chamber, avvalve normally closing the passage except when pressure is created therein, a vent communicating directly with the control chamber, and thermostatically operated means within the chamber for regulating the delivery of water through the vent.
2. A sprinkler head comprising a housing. having a sprinkler surface connected therewith, a water inlet communicating with the housing, a second and vent opening from the housing, means for thermostatically controlling the flow of water either through the sprinkler surface or the vent 13,0
from the housing, and a pressure operated valve for preventing delivery of water to the sprinkler surface upon reduction of pressure within the housing due to diversion of waterthrough the second opening.
3. A sprinkler head comprising a chamber having a water inlet opening thereinto, sprinkling and diversion outlets, a valve vcontrolling the dif version outlet, and a thermostatically fllledbellows connected with the valve. and positioned opposite the inlet and subjected directly to water entering therethrough,` the bellows being -arranged to normally hold the valve closed against water pressure within the chamber and to open the valve with the pressure upon exceeding a predetermined temperature range therein.
4. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, a water inlet connected to the housing, a water sprinkler outlet, a diversion outlet, andv a bellows and valve assembly detachablymounted in the diversion outlet and normally sealing the outlet against the escape of water therethrough, the valve being designed to .open with pressure upon exceeding a predetermined temperature range within the chamber.
5. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, water sprinkling means connected with the housing, a water inlet to the housing, a diversion outlet, a bellows within the housing, a valve connected with the bellows and designed to normally yclose the diversion outlet against pressure within the housing, and means for adjusting the valve with relation to the bellows to varyy the temperature within the housing at which the valve opens.
6. A sprinkler head comprising a housing, a
nected with an inlet supply, means for deliveringa sprinkling spray from the housing, a diversion vent opening from the housing, a valve controlling the diversion vent and opening with pressure, a bellows filled with thermostatic fluid connected to the Valve and normally operating to open the valve upon occurrence of a predetermined excessive temperature range and normally serving to retain the valve seated against pressure due to vacuum pull within the bellows, and means for normally limiting the excessive movements of the bellows under the influence of excessive temperatures.
WALTER B. CLIFFORD.
US560204A 1931-08-29 1931-08-29 Sprinkler head Expired - Lifetime US1978623A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4854499A (en) * 1985-12-11 1989-08-08 Eli Neuman Temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water
US5915415A (en) * 1997-07-17 1999-06-29 Huang; Tien-Tsai Flow control valve assembly with temperature indicating capability for a water conveying device
WO2002082204A1 (en) * 2001-04-04 2002-10-17 Gyozo Vidor Anti-scalding thermostat insert

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4854499A (en) * 1985-12-11 1989-08-08 Eli Neuman Temperature sensitive shower diverter valve and method for diverting shower water
US5915415A (en) * 1997-07-17 1999-06-29 Huang; Tien-Tsai Flow control valve assembly with temperature indicating capability for a water conveying device
WO2002082204A1 (en) * 2001-04-04 2002-10-17 Gyozo Vidor Anti-scalding thermostat insert

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