US2389333A

US2389333A - Sprinkler head

Info

Publication number: US2389333A
Application number: US545989A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tyden Emil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-07-21
Filing date: 1944-07-21
Publication date: 1945-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1962-11-20

Description

Nov. 20, 1945. E, TYDEN 2,389,333

SPRINKLER HEAD Filed July 21, 1944 ll ll l lu w .5- jnMejzZ oa i [WazZ fa/em Patented Nov. 20; 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE SPRINKLER HEAD v Emil Tyden, Hastings, Mich. 'Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 545,989

I 16 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinkler heads designed for use in fire extinguishing systems, and one object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sprinkler head which'is adapted to be installed with its lower end substantially flush with the ceiling of a room. This eliminates certain objections to standard sprinkler heads which have been customarily installed at a substantial distance below the ceiling of a room and were considered unsightly, particularly in stores and ofiice buildings where especial attention is paid to the finish and decoration of wallsurfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head of relatively simple and compact construction and occupying a comparatively small space in a vertical direction and therefore adapted for installation between the ceiling and the floor above it even when the distance between these elements is quite limited.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a sprinkler head adapted for flush mounting in the ceiling and having a spreader or water deflecting device arranged to be automatically lowered below the plane of the ceiling when the sprinkler becomes operative by reason of fire conditions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sprinkler head having its operative mechanism and its deflector housed normally above the plane of the ceiling but with its fusible element disposed slightly below said plane for certain exposure to the currents of heated air flowing across the ceiling under fire conditions. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to'provide a sprinkler head mechanism which includes a housing having a water discharge port therein with a cap for said port and means controlled by a fusible element for releasing the cap, together with a water deflector normally contained within the housing but connected thereto by flexible elements such as chains and adapted to be lowered below the plane of the ceiling under fire conditions for proper distribution of the water discharged through the port.

7 Othe objects'and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view oi a sprinkler head embodying this invention showing it connected to a supply pipe and with the parts in normal position prior to operation.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing the sprinkler head in operation with the deflector lowered below the plane of the ceiling.

head housing.

Fig- 3 isaa detail elevation of the retaining toggle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a diametral section of the port closing cap and its liner in disassembled relation.

Fig. 6 is a ,plan View of the spreader;

Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the sprinkler Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a wrench for installing or removing the head.

While there, is shown .and described certain specific structure embodying'the invention, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention herein shown and de scribed except as indicated by the appended claims. Itshould also be understood that al though th fire extinguishing liquid most commonly employed is water, the present invention is applicable to apparatus employing other liquids and that wherever. in the specification 0r claims water is referred to it-is intended as a generic term denoting any suitable fluid for use in fire extinguishing systems. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the water supply pipe is indicated at 1, connected into a T fitting 2 with a depending threaded nipple 3 onto which the housing 4 ofthe sprinkler head is secured. The housing is thus removable if desired, and is usuallyremoved after a-fire for replace.- ment and resetting of the valve and other parts, but when it is attached to the fitting 2 by. the nipple 3, the housingserves as a fixed anchorage for a movable spreader as hereinafter described.

The housing 4 is substantially cylindrical in form and includes an integrally cast nozzle 'portion 5 disposed centrally within the housing and providing an annular space 6 around the nozzle. The nozzle terminates in a port 1 which is normally closed by a cap or valve member 8, pref,- erably consisting of a metallic disk 8a and the thin sheet metal liner 8b shown in Fig. 5. The valve disk 8a includes a central projection or knob which is engaged by the upper end of the set screw 9 carried in the threaded hub Illa of the toggle'member I0. The toggle consists of the member H! which extends nearly across the lower end of the housing 4, and the member H which is pivoted to the member III at [2, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. The lower end ofthe housing 4 is formed with an inwardly projecting flange which provides an upwardly facing shoulder l3 and one end of the toggle member I0 is formed with a projection lllb which rests upon this shoulder I3. The toggle member H has a nose or projection l lb which is similarly supported on the shoulder l3 and the toggle members are formed with depending arms we and He, respectively, which are connected by a fusible link l4. When the set screw 9 is adjusted into position to clamp the cap or valve member 8 into port closing position it reacts with a tendency to force the toggle members downwardly and this tendency is resisted by the tensiorn on; the link M; whereby the-valve member 8 is? maintained; nor mally in closed position.

There is also carried withinthe housing 4 a deflector or spreader [5 which may be a disk of sheet metal with its peripheral portioxr pref-- erably upturned and slotted, and having; addi tional perforations for directing and dispersing water as it strikes the upper surf'alceof thd'e flector. For convenience, the deflector-1 is normally disposed concentrically with the valve member 8 and may be" formedwith: a centiial opening |5a into which the hub 8d of the mermber 8 is fitted. The spreader f5 is anchored to the housing 4= b'y' means offlexihie suspending memberswhich are shown" as chains-l t eachiter minating in an airchor'ri vetl'r secuiled in the top wall ofthe' housing 4. Preferably, three chains are employed and they are of a suitable length to support the spreader in operative position at a distance below theplrie oftheceilingr Atas shown in Fig; 2E Howevenwhen the spreader is disposed Within the housing 4 as shown in Fig: the chains it are collapsed and accommodated with the annular space fi' around the nozzle =5 and in the remaining availahle space-withimtheheus ing* 43 The toggie member IU-i'nelud'es a circular! dislc'p'ort'ion' ioci'whiblr closes the iewer en'd 'ofi the housingand retains tilieichains thereirt- Pieierabiy, a SPI iilg HF fitt'fiig" loosely around the hub We ortlie toggle' member Presets- 11p wardly against 'tliespreader I5 and valves? As shown, the IiuB" 821" of the valve terminates iir a; thin annular portion 8e wh icli'ispeene'd'onspun over againstthespreader' l fri'vet fashi'oir'so that the valve or cap 8 and thespreadian' It? are-per manently assembled and the spring l fiaetually reacts against tliis spun-overportibnofthevaliie 8; This permanentconneetieir oftiie parts a and Wis-not essential; but facilitates the planmg and se'curement ofthe val-ire i'n settingtfie parts the positibn shown in Fig-1i and it also avoids loss of tfie 'pa'rt liwlien iilisgiiihli-ibr lie'ad' goes into action. I,

The-link lit is of the typecommcmi -empioyecfinsprinkler heads, comprising two-members secured face to face By fiisiblematerial, such as solder; with tli'e'end of'on'e meande engaged with are arm'- we and with theend-orthectlier memlierengaged witli the a'rirr We s0 that wiiew subje'ct'ed to a predetermined temperature-the solder will melta-nrthe twe members will pull apart under the tension constantly exerted on- By tlie-armsil'fl'c and Nb." Wlieir-tlie-liiik llis thus released by a temperatureindicating"the-presence of fire conditions, the pressure-oftlie spring (8 upon the toggle member lll insures miner move"- m'ent oi the toggle downwardly although nor"- maily 'tlie-water'pressure actingagainst'tlie valve B and-througii tlie set screw 9 will operate with tlie'same eifent causingth'earm Wcortire toggle member ll tc'swi'mg about its ivot so as-to' um seat its nose-crtproje-ctibn I Hi from the-shoulder r3 andtiius release thetcggie iiam-the housing 4: As-tlie tbgglefall'saway the spreader It will it is suspended by the chains [6 directly below the port 1. Whether the valve cap 8 is attached to the spreader or not it will be unseated so as to permit a deluge of water from the port I to impinge upon the spreader I5 and to be deflected and distributed thereby, part of the water being thrown against the ceiling A and a portion of its being discharged directly downward through the apertures and slots of the deflector $5. Incidentally, the chains 16- contribute to the dispersion: and; distribution of T the water in lateral directions.

, To provide a neat appearance for the sprinkler head as installed in the ceiling, and also to close theannular clearance opening 20 which is formed in the ceiling A around the housing 4, an annular plate 2| is removably attached as by screwsZZ to the lower end of the housing 4 and is dimensioned to overlap the opening 29. Upon the termination of the fire or other condition which caused operation of? the sprinkler head the: water supply'inth'e pipe I'is shut off at a remote control valve and the sprinklerhead or housing 4-is preferably removed" for servicing and" resetting. This'involves simplythe removalof thescrews 22 and" plate 21 so as to expose tlie" radially: extending lugs n onrthe housing 4 which are :engageable by means of' a specialwrench; 25' of the type shown'irr Fig. 8. When the hou'sing has 'beenun screwed from the nipple 3' the valve cap: will be replacedinposition overtheport I; with a new liner 8b,r-if necessary; and with thecon's'tmction shown this willinvolve replacingrtl ie'spreader" I5 within the housing '4 and suitably! nesting; its collapsed chains l4 therein. Then; anew toggle-1am sembly 9, H]; I I, with a spring N3 Willbe adjusted: in position and after application of 'a 'new fusible link it therset sc'rewfi will beztighte'nedwo secure the parts. If desirechthewhub' I'llzt and the. screw 9 may='be-dri1led to receive a cross pin 261asiai precaution against loosening of the screw-under: vi bration and-its prevent tampering; therewith",- As already noted; the f aet that the supporting meme beis forthespreader [5: are flexible an'dr collapsi ble permits themetobe accommodated? in a} house ing 4 which is comparatively shallow in vertical dimension, andthe simplicity-of t-he valve-cuntroll-ingmechanism: also permitszthe housihgrto be relatively smalLso-that it necessary a spri-nkler head ofthis type-carnbe: installed'tbetweemthe ceiling antithefioor aboveit even'when this space is quitelimiteda I I claim as my invention:

is A=sprink-ler head for a firecexting-uishing system comp-rising ahousing awa-teii discharge poiit withinsaid housing-,- aclosureacapforsaid port aspreader: withcollapsible means connectingsaid spreader tothe :housing said means being dimensionedL when extended to supportthe spreader at an operative position arpair of levers pivoteddxi- .gether forming. a toggle with their respective ends engaging, a portion of the housinglarms extend,- ing from said levers, a fusible link connecting saidarms, and means carried bythe toggle. holding said cap in port closingposition with saidspreader' and its collapsible supporting, means disposed within the housing, v

2. A sprinkler heaid'for a fire extinguishing systeam comprising: a housing;,a1 water discharge port within said housing, a clb'siirecap for sa'idpdrfia spreader-"with collapsible" means connecting, said spreader to the housing; salibim'eans being dimension'e'd when extende'd't'o support the spreader: at an operative position, means including a. fli'sible element normally holdingthecap port clbsing position and retaining the spreader and itscollapsed connecting -means within the housing, but operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the 'cap and also the spreader, allowing said collapsed means to be extended for supporting the spreader in its operative position.

3. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprisin a housing, said housing having a centrally disposed'nozzle .terminating in a downwardly opening discharge port and providing an annular space around said nozzle within the housing, a spreader with flexible hangers connecting it to the housing, said hangers being dimensioned to suspend the spreader at an operative position, a closure cap for the discharge port carried on the spreader, and means including a fusible element normally upholding the cap in port closing position and retaining the spreader within the housing with its flexible hangers accommodated in said annular space but operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the cap and also thespreader, allowing its hangers to be extended for supporting it at operative position.

4. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling, a water discharge port within said housing, a closure cap for said port, a spreader with collapsible hangers connecting said spreader to the housing, said hangers being dimensioned when extended to suspend the spreader at an operative position below the ceiling, means including a fusible element and a member held in position thereby, said member being detachably engaged with the housing and extending under the discharge port, with a screwin said member adjustable to hold the cap in port closing .position, said member also retaining the spreader and its collapsed hangers within the housing but bein operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the cap and also the spreader, allowing the latter to descend to its operative position.

5. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling, a water discharge port within said housing, a closure cap for said port, a spreader with chains connecting said spreader to. the housing, said chains being dimensioned to suspend the spreader in an operative position below the ceiling, means including a fusible element normally upholding the cap in port closing position and retaining the spreader with its chains in collapsed position within the housing, said means being operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the cap and also the spreader, allowing the latter to descend below the ceiling to the extent permitted by said chains.

6. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling, a downwardly opening discharge port within said housing, a closure cap for said port, a spreader with flexible hangers therefor attached to the housing at points laterally adjacent the port and attached to the spreader near its periphery, leaving the port unobstructed except by said cap, and means including a fusible element normally upholding the cap in port closing position and retaining the spreader and its flexible hangers within the housing, said meansbeing operable upon fusing of said element to release the cap and also the spreader, allowing the latter to descend below the plane of the ceiling to the extent permitted by said flexible hangers.

7. A sprinkler headfor a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with-a ceiling, a water discharge'port within said housing, a closure. cap for said port, a spreader with collapsible hangers connecting said spreader to the housing, said hangers being dimensioned when extended to suspend the spreader at an operative position below the ceilin said housing having an upwardly facing shoulder adjacent its lower end, a member having one end lodged upon said shoulder, a retaining catch pivoted to the other end of said member and 9,180 lodged upon said shoulder, arms extending downwardly from said member and said catch respectively, with a fusible link connecting said arms below the plane of the ceiling, means extending upwardly from said member holding the cap in port closing position and retaining the spreader within the housing, said hangers being accommodated in collapsed form within the housing, the fusing of said link permitting the catch to swing about its pivot and disengage the shoulder of the housing whereby said member releases the closure cap from the port and releases the spreader from the housing.

8. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling,a water discharge port within said housing, a closure cap for said port, a spreader with collapsible means connecting said spreader to the housing, said means being dimensionedwhen extended to suspend the spreader at an operative position below theceiling, a pair of levers pivotedtogether forminga toggle with their respective ends engaging the lower portion of the housin and having arms depending below the plane of the ceiling, a fusible link connecting said arms, and means carried by the toggle upholding said 'cap in port closing position with said spreader and its collapsible suspendin means disposed within the housing, said tog le including laterally extending portions forming a disk which normally closes the lower end of the housing and retains the collapsible means therein.

9. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a liquid supply conduit having a discharge port, a fixed anchorage adjacent said conduit, a spreader having a portion adapted to serve as a closure for said port, flexible means connecting the said spreader to said fixed anchorage and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port but permitting the said spreader to be placed in port closing position, and means including fusible means normally holding thespreader in that position. v

10. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a liquid supply conduit having a discharge port, a fixed anchorage adjacent and outside said conduit, a spreader having a portion adapted to serve as a closure for said port, collapsible means disposed entirely outside said conduit and connecting the spreader to said fixed anchorage, said means being dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port but permitting the spreader to be placed in port closing position with said connecting means collapsed, and means including fusible means normally holding the spreader in that position,

11. A sprinkler head for a, fire extinguishing system comprising a liquid supply conduit having a discharge port, a fixed anchorage adjacent said? conduit l aspreader: includinga closure cap for saideport, a pluralityof' flexible members con-- -means including fusible means normally holding,

thecap inthat position. 7

1-2.;A- sprinkler head for afire extinguishing systemcomprising a liquid supply conduit having; a discharge-port, anchorage-means I carried by and externallyof said conduit, a closure cap for said port; a spreader with chains connecting the spreader tosaid anchorage means and dimensioned to supportqthe spreader at anoperative distance from said port, and means including a fusible element normallyholding the capinport closing-J position and. -operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the cap.- 1

13LA sprinklerhead for a fire extinguishing system comprising a liquid supply conduit having adischarge port; a closure cap for said port, a spreader; a fixed anchorage, and collapsible supporting means connecting the spreader to said anchorage and extensible to holdthe spreader in operative relation to the said discharge port, together with means including iusible means normallyholding the cap in port closing position andretaining; the spreader'at a. position with its supporting means collapsed, but operable, upon fusion,- to-release said cap'and said spreader, a1- lowing the; supporting means to be extended for presenting the spreader at operative position 14. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing P system comprisin a liquid supply conduit h'aving: a discharge port; afixedanchorage-adjacent said conduit, a closure cap for: said P0113312: spreads er with flexible hanger means therefor attached to saidanchorage and: attached to the spreader near" its periphery, said hanger means being; die mensioned to support the spreader at an-opera-- tive distance from said port, and'me'ans including fusible'means normally h'old-ingthe cap iii-port closing position;

15. A sprinkler head fora fire extinguishing system comprising a liquid supply conduithaving a discharge port, aclosure cap'for said port; an anchorage structure externally adj acent; the conduit, a spreader with'hangersconsistingof chains disposed laterally ofthe discharge portyanden gaging the spreader adjacent its periphery for connecting the spreader to saidanchorage saidchainsbeing dimensioned to support thespreader at an operative distancefromsaidport, and'reltainin-g means including a fusible-element; said retaining means being detachably' engaged with said anchorage structure and normally holding the closure capin port closing position.

1 6.1 A sprinkler headfor a fireex-tinguishing system comprising. a liquid supply conduit. hav-- ing a discharge port,- a; fixed anchorage adjacent said conduit; av closure cap for said port,- a spread.- er with flexible hangermeans therefor attached to said anchorage and attached tothespreader near its periphery; said hanger'means-bein di-' mensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port; and means including fusible means normally holding the cap in port closing positionwith the spreader closely ad: jacent thereto andwith saidhanger means-flexed;