US3067823A

US3067823A - Automatic sprinkler

Info

Publication number: US3067823A
Application number: US40408A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick J Kavanagh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-01
Filing date: 1960-07-01
Publication date: 1962-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1962 F. J. KAVANAGH 3,0

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed July 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1..

INVENTOR. FEEfiEQ/CK (A K4/4/1/46A;

Dec. 11, 1962 J, K N 3,067,823

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed July 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG: 4.

3,067,823 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Frederick J. Kavanagh, 158 W. 88th St., New York, N.Y. Filed July 1, 1960, Ser. No. 40,408 4 Claims. (Cl. 16941) This invention relates to water sprinklers, and more particularly to an automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automatic sprinkler device which is simple in construction, which is efficient in operation, and which is normally maintained in a substantially inconspicuous retracted position but which automatically moves into operating position responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic sprinkler device adapted to be installed in a water supply conduit and arranged to automatically become operative responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature, the sprinkler device being inexpensive to fabricate, being reliable in operation, and providing a rotating, widely distributed water spray therebeneath, whereby it is highly effective in extinguishing a fire in the region subjacent same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through an improved automatic sprinkler device constructed in accordance with the present invention, and shown in its normal retracted position.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the elements forming the main casing of the sprinkler device of FIGURE 1, said elements being shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the elements forming the internal assembly of the sprinkler device of FIG- URE 1, the elements being shown in separated positions.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a water supply conduit which is formed with a plurality of spaced depending conduit fittings 12 to which sprinkler heads are adapted to be connected. Designated generally at 13 is an improved automatic sprinkler device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sprinkler device being adapted to be connected to a depending conduit fitting 12 of the water supply conduit, it being understood that the various conduit fittings of the supply conduit would be similarly equipped with sprinkler devices according to the present invention and presently to be described.

The sprinkler device 13 comprises a generally cylindrical main outer tubular body 14 formed at its top end with external threads 15 which are threadably engageable in the internal threads of the associated depending conduit fitting element 12. The upper portion of the body 14 is formed with diametrically opposed substantially flattened recessed

portions

16, 16 engageable by the opposite jaws of a suitable wrench for tightening or loosening the body with respect to the conduit element 12.

The tubular body 14 is formed at its lower portion with internal threads 17 in which is threadedly engaged a generally cylindrical lower tubular body 18 provided with the bottom cover disc 19, the cover disc being releasably secured in an annular recess 2% formed in the bottom rim nited States Patent of the body 18 by a quantity of fusible material 21, such as soft solder, or the like, which is engaged between the rim of the cover 19 and the annular recess 20 in which said rim is received, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1. The fusible material 21 is of a suitable low melting point so that it melts responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature, such as the rise in temperature which accompanies a fire in the vicinity of the device, whereby to release the cover member 19 and allow the cover member to drop out of the tubular lower body member 18.

Threadedly engaged with the upper portion of the threads 17 is a guide disc 22 formed with a central circular opening 23 and with a plurality of vertical passages 24 spaced outwardly from the opening 23. Slidably engaged in the opening 23 is a tubular shaft member 25 which is disposed axially in the body 14, as shown in FIGURE 1, and which is provided at its top end with a circular piston 26 threadedly secured thereon and slidably and sealingly engaged with the inside surface of tubular body 14.

The piston 26 is provided with diametrically opposed

recesses

27, 27 adapted to be engaged by a spanner wrench for threading the member 26 on the tubular shaft member 25 during the assembly of the device.

The tubular shaft member 25 is formed at its top end with the generally frusto conical valve seat 28 which normally is sealingly engaged by a frusto conical valve element 29 centrally secured to a diametrically arranged supporting bar 30 mounted in a ring member 31 which is in turn threadedly engaged with internal threads 32 formed in the top end of the body 14.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the ring member 31 is formed with inner threads 33 and outer threads 34, the outer threads 34 being threadedly engaged with the internal threads 32 of the top end of the tubular body 14, and the bar 30 being formed with serrations 36 fitting the internal threads 33 of ring 31 so that the bar member 30 is threadedly engaged inside the ring member 33 and is supported thereby in a position substantially similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1. The frusto conical valve member 29 is provided with the axial, upstanding shank 37 which is engaged through a central aperture 38 provided in the bar member 30 and which is secured thereto by a nut 39. A washer 40 is interposed between the frusto conical valve element 29 and the bottom surface of the bar member 30, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1.

Designated at 42' is a downwardly tapering sprinkler head which is formed with the cylindrical upper securing portion 43 which is rotatably supported by the lower portion of the tubular shaft member 25. Thus, the tubular shaft member 25 is provided with a bottom supporting collar 44 threadedly secured thereon, the collar 44 being formed with an annular ball bearing raceway 45 arranged concentric therewith in which a plurality of ball bearings 46 are supported. Threadedly engaged in the top portion of the cylindrical element 43 is an annular bearing collar 47 formed with downwardly facing ball sockets opposing the raceway 45 and receiving the ball bearings 46, so that the sprinkler head 42 is rotatably supported on the collar 44 and thus is rotatably supported on the bottom end of the vertical tubular shaft 25. The upper bearing collar 47 is formed with a plurality of vertical vent passages 48 communicating with said ball sockets so that the space adjacent the ball bearings 46 is open to the atmosphere around the sprinkler head 42.

Secured in the lower portion of the cylindrical member 43 is a nozzle plate 49 which is formed with opposed 3 downwardly inclined arcuate passages 50 which are shaped to induce a swirling action in the water passing therethrough and to develop a reaction causing the met ber 49 to rotate. As shown in FIGURE 1, the member 49 is rigidly secured to the sprinkler head 42 by opposing fastening

screws

51, 51, so that the reaction of water moving downwardly through the inclined passages 56 is transmitted to the sprinkler head 42, causing the sprinkler head to rotate with respect to the tubular shaft member 25.

The sprinkler head 42 is formed in its lower portion with the diametrically opposed pairs of vertical slots 54- through which water may be discharged and which are of sufiicient size so that the discharging water will emerge in the form of a spray of substantial horizontal width and will thus cover a relatively large area beneath the sprinkler device.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the

body members

14 and 18 are dimensioned so that the cover plate 12 normally engages the bottom of the sprinkler head .-2 and supports the interior assembly including the sprinkler head and the vertical shaft member 25 in a position elevated suiticiently to maintain the valve seat 23 in sealing engag ment with the frusto conical valve element 2?. This normally seals the sprinkler device and prevents water from flowing downwardly through the tubular shaft member 25. However, when a sufificiently large rise in temperature occurs adjacent to the sprinkler device, the fusible material 21 melts and releases the cover disc 19, allowing the water pressure to act on the piston member 26 and force same downwardly to cause the sprinkler head 42 to descend to the dotted view position thereof shown in FIGURE 1. The valve seat 23 disengages from the frusto conical valve element 29, allowing free passage of water downwardly through the tubular shaft 25. The water discharges through the apertured nozzle plate #9 and is deflected laterally by the inclined passages 56, developing a reaction which causes the sprinkler head 43 to spin, so that the water discharges from the slots 54 with a relatively rapid rotary movement, causing the discharging water to spread over a relatively large area subjacent the sprinkler device.

It will be noted that when conditions are normal, the sprinkler head 42 is supported in its retracted position, shown in FIGURE 1, and is relatively inconspicuous. Only when a predetermined temperature rise occurs, for example the rise in tcn'tperature accompanying a fire in the imme iate vicinity of the sprinkler device, does the sprinkler head 42 descend into operating position and deliver the rotating water spray to the area subjacent the device.

As shown in FIGURES l and 4, the lower tubular body member 18 is provided with a plurality of recesses 6 spaced so that a suitable tool may be engaged in said recesses to tighten the member 18 in the threads 17 of the main body member 14, or to release same when the device is taken apart. As shown in FIGURE l, the lo 'er tubular body member 18 is ordinarily tightened suitrciently in the threads 17 to lock the guide disc 22 in a stationary position with respect to the threads 17, so that the body member 13 acts as a lock nut with respect to the guide disc 22.

As further shown in FIGURE 1, the bottom end of the tubular shaft 25 is formed with a downwardly flaring frusto conical discharge rim 6?; allowing the water descending therethrough to spread over the major portion of the area of the swirl plate 4) and to freely enter the inclined arcuately curved swirl passages 54), 50.

While the main portion of the sprinkler unit is intended as a permanent ins'a lation, the recesses 69 make it possible to easily remove member by the use of a suitable tool engaged in said recesses, so that the original member 1'8 may be removed after the sprinkler unit has been activated, and may be replaced by another member 18 provided with a new cover disc 19, whereby the sprinkler unit may be reset for the next activation thereof.

While a specific embodiment of an improved automatic sprinkler device has been disclosed in the forcgoing description, it will be understood that various moditications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to be connected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its top end and siidably mounted in said main body, an apertured sprinkler head connected to the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing element mounted in the upper portion of said main body ifllCZlil with and seaiingly receivable in the top end of th. inner conduit, and temperature-responsive releasa'ie support means in the lower portion of said main e open top end of said inner conduit in sealing receivng engagement with said sealing element and being reeasable responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature.

2. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to be connected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its top end and disposed longitudinaliy in said main body, a circular piston secured to said inner conduit and slidably and sealin gly engaging the inside surface of said main body, an apertured sprinkler head connected to the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing element mounted in the upper portion of said main body in alignment with and sealingly receivable in the top end of the inner conduit, and temperatureresponsive releasable support means in the lower portion of said main body and engaging said sprinkler head to normally hold the open top end of said inner conduit in sealing receiving engagement with said sealing element and being releasable responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature.

3. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to be connected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its top end and disposed longitudinally in said main body, a circular piston secured to said inner conduit and slidably and sealingly engaging the inside surface of said main body, an apertured sprinkler head journaled on the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing element mounted in the upper portion of said main body in alignment with and sealingly receivable in the top end of the inner conduit, a supporting cover in the lower end of said main body engaging said sprinkler head to normally hold the open top end of said inner conduit in settling receiving engagement with said sealing element, and fusible means connecting said supporting cover to the lower end of the main body and being fusible to release the supporting cover responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature.

4. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to be connected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its top end disposed longitudinally in said main body, a circular piston secured to said inner conduit and slidably and sealingly engaging the inside surface of said main body, a sprinkler head journaled on the lower end of said inner conduit, said sprin ler head having a vertically slotted bottom wall, a scaling element mounted in the upper portion of said main body in alignment with and sealingly receivable in the top end of the inner conduit, a supporting cover in the lower end of said main body engaging said sprinkicr head to normally hold the open top end of said inner conduit in sealing receiving engagement with said sealing element, fusible means connecting said supporting cover to the lower end of the main body and being fusible to release the supporting cover responsive to a predetermined rise in temperature, and an apertured reaction member mounted in said s, '1; head above the vertical slots of said bottom wall and having a downwardly extending inclined passage therethrough, said reaction member being disposed in the path of movement of water through the sprinkler head, whereby to develop a rotational reaction on the sprinkler head responsive to the 5 flow of Water through the reaction member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lee Ian. 10, 1950