US2978911A - Pressure relaying device - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1961 w. M. HAESSLER 2,978,911

PRESSURE RELAYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1957 Q Q Q Q m q Q i w INVENTOR.

14414 new .HAEJ'QLEQ M m A'TTORNEY Unite 2,978,911 PRESSURE RELAYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 679,359 Claims. (Cl. 74-2) The present invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and particularly to a pressure relaying device of the type including releasable pneumatic impulse producing means.

The pressure relaying device in accordance with the present invention is an improvement over that shown in Lowe US. Patents Nos. 1,869,20l and 1,996,478.

The pressure relaying device is used in the controls of fire extinguishing apparatus such as, but not necessarily limited to, the type of actuation termed rate of rise and which depends upon a rapid rate of rise in the temperature of the space in which the control device is located. The rate of rise operating head is generally a thin walled vessel positioned adjacent the ceiling of a space to be protected and connected by piping to a pressure actuated device incorporating vent means. Under normal conditions of temperature variation, the increase in the pressure in the rate of rise head is vented without actuating the pressure-actuated device. However, under conditions of explosion or under fast temperature rise, the pressure builds up faster than it is vented and causes actuation of the control device. Many times it is desirable to utilize the control device for closing windows or doors, shutting off air ventilation systems, making ready distribution valves, as well as opening the main discharge valve of a fire extinguishing system. By reason of the comparatively low energy of the rate of rise head, it has been the custom to use pressure relay devices triggered by the rate of rise head, such pressure relaying devices operating one or more of the aforementioned devices. Obviously, it is important that the pressure relaying device remain inoperative under normal conditions of vibration, shock, etc., but it should be readily actuable under conditions such as are produced by a fire.

The present invention aims to provide an improved pressure relaying device incorporating a novel structure which is simple and economical in manufacture, efiicient in operation, and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

The drawing is a vertical sectional view of a pressure relaying device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a pressure relaying device 1 in accordance with the invention and which includes impulses producing means 2, and latching means 3 releasably restraining the pneumatic impulse producing means 2.

The pneumatic impulse producing means 2 includes a housing 4 of generally tubular shape and closed at one end with an end wall 5 having centrally positioned therein on the inward side thereof a stop member 6. A boss 7 is provided on the outer side of the end wall 5 for an outlet 8. A fluid passage 9 is made through the end wall '5 connecting the outlet 8 with the interior of the housing 4. The end wall 5 may be secured to the end of the housing 4 by any suitable means such as by the use of screws extending through the end wall 5 into bosses On the outside of the housing 4. In order to provide a spring Stat atet:

recess, one end of the housing 4 is reduced in diameter as indicated at 10, and an end wall 11 is provided to close the housing. A guideway passage 12 extends through the end wall 11. Within the housing 4 is posi tioned the impulse producing means including a bellows member 14 of generally tubular construction secured at one end 15 by soldering or other suitable means to an inwardly projecting portion 16 of the end wall 5. An end 17 of the bellows 14 is a bellows end guiding member 18 having an extending portion 19 to which is secured the end 17 of the bellows. The bellows and guiding member 18 is considerably larger in diameter than its axial length and it is provided with side walls slightly rounded as indicated at 20 for a sliding self-aligning contact with the inner wall of the housing 4. A spring 21 is interposed between the bellows end guiding member 18 and end wall 11 of the housing, the spring 21 normally tending to urge the bellows end guiding member 18 so as to compress the bellows At one end of the housing 4 is provided vent or drain openings 22.. The end wall 11 has an extension 24 grooved to form a swivel ring recess 25 adapted to receive a swivel nut retaining ring 26.

A swivel nut 27 with a threaded inner surface 28 is grooved as indicated at 29 to receive the swivel nut retaining ring 26. In order to releasably hold the bellows end guiding member 18 against the action of the spring 21, a latch rod 30 is provided which is preferably threadedly engaged in the guiding member 18 as indicated at 31. The lower end of the latch rod 30- is grooved as indicated at 32 to form a head 34. Wall 35 of the groove 32 adjacent the head 34 is formed as a portion of a spherical surface with its center approximately at the intersection of the axes of the rods 3% and 54. The outer end of the head 34 is formed with a tapered or rounded surface 36. Another groove 37 is made about the latch rod 36 to receive an O-ring gasket 38 to provide a seal.

The latching means 3 includes a housing or tubular member 40 extending generally transversely to the housing 4 and having an extension or boss 41 threaded to be engaged by the swivel nut 27. The extension 41 has an opening 42 therein to receive a bearing member 44 at the end of the extension 24 of the end member 11. The tubular housing 40 is formed with one end 45 having a guideway passage 46 therein, the outer surface of the end 45 being provided with an enlarged flange portion 47 to be attached to any suitable device for the control thereof.

In order to form a spring recess, the guideway passage 46 is enlarged as indicated at 4-8 and still further enlarged at its other end as indicated at 49 to form an enlarged guideway. The end 50 is threaded to receive any suitable control device having a threaded connection. A trigger rod 54 is slideably engaged in the guideway 46 and has its outer end 55 reduced in diameter. A gasket recess 55a receiving an O-ring gasket 55b is positioned adjacent the end 55 of the operating rod 54 to provide a sea In order to position an annular cup-shaped trigger member 55, the trigger rod 54 may be made in two portions threadedly engaged as indicated at 57 and providing collars 58 and 59 to receive wall 66 of the trigger member 56 therebetween. Side wall 61 of the trigger member 56 is made of any desired length so as to engage in the groove 32 of the latch rod 30. Inner surface 62 of the trigger member 56 is preferably formed as a portion of a spherical surface having approximately the same radius as that of the surface 35 with which it cooperates, the center of the radius being positioned approximately at the intersection of the axis of the latch rod and the axis of the trigger rod.

End 64 of the trigger rod 54 is enlarged as indicated at 65 to form a large guiding surface. 'Outwardly of the large guiding surface 65, the inner surface of the tubular housing 40 is recessed as indicated at 66 to receive a locking member 67 adapted to prevent the trigger rod assembly from moving outwardly of its guideway. A spring 68 is positioned in the spring recess 48 abutting between reduced portion 69 of the housing 40 and the wall 60 of the trigger member 56.

In order to reset the impulse producing means after the actuating thereof, the housing 4 is provided with an axially extending slot to receive a hand operated rod 71 threadedly engaged in the bellows end guiding member 18. The outer end of the rod 71 may be rounded or 'device in contact therewith. Upon movement of the trigger rod 54, the trigger member 56 has its cup shaped wall disengaged from the head 34 of the latch rod 30, releasing the rod and allowing the spring 21 to compress the bellows member 14, thereby producing a pneumatic impulse outwardly through the outlet 8 to actuate any other desired pressure actuated device.

To reset the pressure relaying device 1 for another operation, the manually operated rod 71 is moved towards the latching housing 40, thereby contacting the inclined surface 36 of the head 34 against the edge of the trigger member 56, automatically moving the latch rod 30 axially to allow passage of the head 34, whereupon the spring 68 moves the trigger member 56 so that the edge of the trigger member is engaged in the groove 32 of the latch rod 30.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latching mechanism for use with a pressure relaying device of the type including pneumatic impulse producing means, the latching mechanism comprising a housing having a passageway therethrough, a boss positioned on the side of the housing, the boss having a threaded exterior surface and having a passage therethrough, the boss passage having a portion of reduced diameter defining a collar, a bearing member positioned in the boss passageway and abutting against the collar, a ring nut threadedly engaged with the boss surface holding the bearing member in position, a latch rod slideably received in the bearing member, the latch rod grooved at one end defining a latch head, the wall of the groove adjacent the head formed of a portion of a spherical surface, the housing passage having a portion of reduced diameter defining a guideway, a trigger rod slideably received in the housing guideway, a cup shaped trigger member carn'ed by the trigger rod, and a spring urging the trigger member into releasable engagement with the latch head, the trigger member surface in engagement with the latch head surface also forming a portion of a spherical surface, the center point of said spherical surfaces being the intersection of the axes of the latch and trigger rods.

2. A latching mechanism for use with a pressure relaying device, the latching mechanism comprising a housing having a passageway therethrough, a boss on the housing,

the boss having a passageway therethrough with a portion of the passageway of reduced diameter defining a collar,

a bearing member positioned in the passageway abutting against the collar, a latch rod slideably received in the bearing member, the latch rod grooved at one end defining a latch head, the wall of the groove adjacent the head shaped as a portion of a spherical surface, the housing passage having a portion of reduced diameter defining a guideway, a trigger rod slideably received in the housing guideway, a cup shaped trigger member carried by the trigger rod, and a spring urging the trigger member into releasable engagement with the latch head, the trigger member surface in engagement with the latch head surface also shaped as a portion of a spherical surface and conforming to the adjacent latch head surface, the center point of the sphericl surfaces being the intersection of the axes of the latch and trigger rods.

3. A latching mechanism for use with a pressure relaying device, the latching mechanism comprising a housing having a passageway therethrough, a boss on the housing, the boss having a passageway therethrough, a latch rod slideably received in the boss, the latch rod grooved at one end defining a latch head, the wall of the groove adjacent the head shaped as a portion of a spherical surface, the housing passage having a portion of reduced diameter defining a guideway, a trigger rod slideably received in the housing guideway, a cup shaped trigger member carried by the trigger rod, and a spring urging the trigger member into releasable engagement with the latch head, the trigger member surface in engagement with the latch head surface also shaped as a portion of a spherical surface and conforming to the adjacent latch head surface, the center point of the spherical surfaces being the intersection of the axes of the latch and trigger rods.

4. A latching mechanism for use with a pressure relaying device, the latching mechanism comprising a housing having a passageway therethrough, a boss on the housing, the boss having a passageway therethrough, a latch rod slideably received in the boss, a latch head, at one end of the latch rod, the inner surface of the head shaped as a portion of a spherical surface, a trigger rod slideably received in the housing passageway, a cup shaped trigger member carried by the trigger rod, and a spring urging the trigger member into releasable engegement with. the latch head, the trigger member surface in engagement with the latch head surface also shaped as a portion of a spherical surface and conforming to the adjacent latch head surface, the center point of the spherical surfaces being the intersection of the axes of the latch and trigger rods.

5. A latching mechanism for use with a pressure relaying device, the latching mechanism comprising a housing having a passageway therethrough, a boss on the housing, the boss having a passageway therethrough, a latch rod slideably received in the boss, a latch head, at one end of the latch rod, the inner surface of the head shaped as a portion of a spherical surface, a trigger rod slideably received in the housing passageway, a cup shaped trigger member carried by the trigger rod, and a spring urging the trigger member into releasable engagement with the latch head, the trigger member surface in engagement with the latch head surface also shaped as a portion of a spherical surface and conforming to the adjacent latch head surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 182,298 Bangs Sept. 19, 1876 859,843 Rogers July 9, 1907 902,096 Love Oct. 27, 1908 1,509,257 Randall Sept. 23, 1924 1,742,183 Bell Jan. 7, 1930 2,002,798 Renholdt May 28, 1935 2,180,818 Fields et al Nov. 21, 1939 2,191,861 Rymal Feb. 27, 1940 2,287,989 Grifiith June 30, 1942 2,540,941 Graham et al. Feb. 6, 1951 2,600,162 Frautz June 10, 1952 2,671,347 Scherer Mar. 9, 1954

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