US2531790A

US2531790A - Sprinkler head assembly

Info

Publication number: US2531790A
Application number: US128073A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur C Rowley
Original assignee: GLOBE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO
Current assignee: GLOBE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Co
Priority date: 1949-11-18
Filing date: 1949-11-18
Publication date: 1950-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1950 A. c. ROWLEY SPRINKLER HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 18, 1949 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 SPRINKLER HEAD ASSEMBLY Arthur C. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor to Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 18, 1949, Serial No. 128,073

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in automatic sprinkler installations and a principal object of the invention is to provide a mounting for existing sprinkler heads which will tend to render the heads less obtrusive.

More specifically stated, a primary object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means in the form of a novel adaptor fitting for in-setting the sprinkler heads in the ceiling so that they will project below the latter tothe minimum ex tent consistent with their function.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the attached drawings, wherein;

Figs. 1 and 2, are respectively, top and bottom perspective views of a sprinkler head assembly made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational and partial sectional View of a sprinkler head installed in accordance with the principle of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the elements of the assembly;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of another of the elements of the assembly with a portion thereof broken away;

Figs. 6 and 7 are inverted perspective views of another of the elements of the assembly showing the upper and undersides of the element respectively, and;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the upper end of the sprinkler frame.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing in greater detail a portion of the structure of Fig. 3.

With reference to the drawings, the assembly forming the subject of the present invention comprises a sprinkler frame I of conventional type, this frame comprising an upper hollow body member 2 (see Fig. 8) having a through passage 3 and the usual threaded extension 4 by means of which the frame is mounted in the sprinkler pipe system. Attached to and extendin from the body member 2 are two arms 5 and 6 which meet at their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a solid juncture 1 having a threaded aperture for reception of the upper threaded end 8 of a spreader 9 of conventional form. At its underside, the body member 2 has a nozzle extension II for the bore 3, and the lower end of the nozzle is normally sealed by a closure disc l2 which seats on the lower end of the nozzle as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and which is normallv held to its seat by means of a linkage assembly l3 including a heat responsive release element 14. The necessary tension required to hold the closure disc 12 in place against the pressure within the pipe system is effected by means of the screw 8, between the upper end of which and the disc I2, the linkage assembly 13 is confined. Insofar as described, the sprinkler head is conventional.

In the present instance, a discharge pipe of the sprinkler system is indicated by the reference numeral 15. To this pipe is threaded a reducing fitting l5, and into the lower end of this fitting is threaded the stem 4 of the sprinkler frame as shown in Fig. 3. A ceiling structure I'l conceals the pipe l5 and is provided with an opening [8 through which the sprinkler head projects downwardly into the room space below the ceiling.

In accordance with the present invention, an adaptor fitting 2| is provided at the upper end of the sprinkler head, said fitting being supported on the sprinkler frame. The fitting is in the form, in the present instance, of a disc having a socket 22 shaped to receive and to neatly embrace the upper end of the sprinkler frame. To this end, the socket 22 is generally rectangular in form for reception of the rectangular body portion 2. of the frame, and at opposite sides of the rectangular socket the side walls are recessed, as indicated at 23, for reception of the upper ends or shoulder portions of the depending arms 5 and 6. Thus the upper end of the sprinkler frame fits neatly within and effectively closes the socket opening 22 and at the same time forms a stable seat for ,the fitting 2| upon which the fitting is supported in fixed position, it being noted that the form of the socket and of the mating upper portion. of the sprinkler frame precludes relative rotational movements of these parts about the axis of the bore 3. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '7, the fitting 2! has an upper radial flange 2 in which are provided recesses 25 for engagement with a suitable wrench, and the cylindrical lower portion 26 of the member may be externally threaded as indicated at 21.

In assembly, as previously set forth, the sprinkler head is threaded into the fitting l6 and is thereby secured in the sprinkler system. Attachment of the head to the fitting I 6 may be effected from below the ceiling I! by means of a suitable wrench engaged with the notches 25 of the flange 24 of the member 2|. In order to facilitate this operation, the member 2| is anchored to the frame of the sprinkler head by a spring retainer 28, best shown in Fig. 4, this member being engaged below the lowermost thread of the stem 4 of the frame and behind an annular shoulder on the member 2| as indicated at 29 in Fig. 3, the outer peripheral portion of the retainer seating resiliently in an annular recess 3| in the upper surface of the said member. As shown in Fig. 4, the retainer 28 is open at one side, as indicated at 32, so that this element may be slipped laterally into the operative position described above.

With the sprinkler head thus installed in the pipe system and projecting downwardly through the opening l8. to a minimum extent consistent with the proper distribution of the water by the spreader 9, the member 2| will lie approximately at the level of the ceiling H, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that the dished form of the underface 33 of the member 21 aids in, minimizing the extent to which the sprinkler headextends below the ceiling level and also affords a desirable ornamental appearance.

In order to close the space between the sides of the member 2i and the wall of the ceiling opening l8 and to afford a desirably finished appearance, an annular plate 34, as best shown in Fig. 5, is provided, this member having a flange 35 which closely embraces the depending cylindrical portion, 26 of the member 2i and which has small pressed in bosses 36 adapted to resiliently interlock with the threads 2'1, as shown in Fig. 9, to hold the plate 3B in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. This holding means is such, however, as to render the plate as readily di-splaoeable by any substantial pressure from above, which precludes possibility of the weight of the ceiling structure ll being imposed upon the sprinkler head, and, through the head, upon the pipe system.

I claim:

1, Ina sprinkler head assembly, a frame comprising a hollow body member forming a discharge, nozzle, means at one end of said nozzle for connecting the frame, in a sprinkler system, a closure for the other end of said nozzle, and thermally responsive retaining means for said closure including a support structure extending from the body member outwardly beyond the end of the nozzle, and a fitting formed with a recessed socket shaped to conform with and to receive the intermediate portion of the body member between the ends of the nozzle, said fitting being detachably supported on and embracing the body member and extending transversely from the latter to form a shield for said connecting means.

2. In a sprinkler head assembly, a frame comprising a hollow body member forming a discharge nozzle, said member being threaded at one end to afford a means for connecting the frame in a sprinkler system, a closure for the other end of said nozzle, and thermally responsive retaining means for said closure including a support structure extending from the body member outwardly beyond the end of the nozzle, a fitting detachably supported on and embracing the body member and extending transversely from the latter to form a shield for said connecting means, said fitting being formed with a socket shaped to conform with and to receive an intermediate portion of said body member between the ends of the nozzle, and a resilient element detachably inserted between the inner end of said thread and the confronting face of the fitting to releasably anchor the fitting to the frame.

3. In a sprinkler head assembly, a frame comprising a hollow body member forming a discharge nozzle, means at one end of said nozzle for connecting the frame in a sprinkler system, a closure for the other end of said nozzle, and thermally responsive retaining means for said closure including a support structure extending from the body member outwardly beyond the end of the nozzle, a fitting detachably supported on and embracing the body member and extending transversely from the latter to form a shield for said connecting means, said fitting being formed with a socket shaped to conform with and to receive an intermediate portion of said body member between the ends of the nozzle, and the said intermediate portion of the body member being shaped to preclude relative rotation of the fitting and frame about the axis of the nozzle, and said fitting being formed for engagement by a wrench for threading the frame in the said system.

4. In a sprinkler head assembly, a frame comprising a hollow body member forming a discharge nozzle, means at one end of said nozzle for connecting the frame in a sprinkler system, a 010- sure for the other end of said nozzle, and thermally responsive retaining means for said closure including a support structure extending from the body member outwardly beyond the end of the nozzle,and a fitting detachablysupported on and embracing the body member and extending transversely from the latter to form a shield for said connecting means, the face of the fitting which confronts the closure end of the nozzle being concave.

5. In a sprinkler head assembly, a frame comprising a hollow body member forming a discharge nozzle, means at one end of said nozzle for connecting the frame in a sprinkler system, a closure for the other end of said nozzle, a thermally responsive retaining means for said closure including a support structure extending from the body member outwardly beyond the end of the nozzle, a fitting detachably supported on and embracing body member and extending transversely from the latter to form a shield for the connecting means, and an annular plate element detachably supported on and extending outwardly from the periphery of said fittingsaid element being adjustable on the fitting axially oi the nozzle.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

REFERENCES CI'IED The following references are of record in the