US3872928A

US3872928A - Fluid discharge assembly having a tiltable discharge portion and a discharge control system incorporating a plurality of said assemblies

Info

Publication number: US3872928A
Application number: US467735A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Livingston
Original assignee: Factory Mutual Research Corp
Current assignee: Factory Mutual Research Corp
Priority date: 1974-05-07
Filing date: 1974-05-07
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25

Abstract

A fluid discharge assembly in which a nozzle portion receives fluid from a conduit on which it is mounted and discharges the fluid in a predetermined direction. The nozzle portion is tilted relative to the conduit in response to an external stimulus to vary the direction of discharge. A discharge control system incorporating a plurality of the fluid dicharge assemblies connected to one or more of the conduits.

Description

Ilnited States Patent [1 1 Livingston Mar. 25, 1975 FLUID DISCHARGE ASSEMBLY HAVING A TILTABLE DISCHARGE PORTION AND A DISCHARGE CONTROL SYSTEM INCORPORATING A PLURALITY OF SAID 3,752,235 8/1973 Witkowski 169/26 X Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Mar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lane, Aitken, Dunner & Ziems [57] ABSTRACT A fluid discharge assembly in which a nozzle portion receives fluid from a conduit on which it is mounted and discharges the fluid in a predetermined direction. The nozzle portion is tilted relative to the conduit in response to an external stimulus to vary the direction of discharge. A discharge control system incorporating a plurality of the fluid dicharge assemblies connected to one or more of the conduits.

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EXTINGUISHANT SOURCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fluid discharge assembly and a discharge control system incorporating a plurality of the assemblies and, more particularly, to such an assembly and system in which the angle of discharge from the assembly can be varied in response to an external stimulus.

In fluid discharge systems employing a plurality of discharge devices for selectively discharging fluid, such as fire protection systems, a plurality of discharge heads are conventionally mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected, and are selectively actu ated to discharge the fluid. In the case of fire protection systems, a fusible link is often provided on each discharge head so that the head can individually respond to a fire breaking out in a random location in the space to be protected, to prevent all of the heads in the space from being opened in response to a fire occurring in a relatively small area thereof.

However, even in these situations, the system is somewhat inefficient since the heat of the fire may be sufficient to actuate heads located a remote distance from the fire and since these latter heads discharge directly downwardly away from the fire. Therefore, although these remotely located heads may contribute to protecting portions of the area adjacent the fire, their contribution to the direct extinguishant of the fire is minimal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fluid discharge assembly and a discharge control system employing a plurality of the assemblies in which the angle ofdischarge from each assembly can be varied in response to an external stimulus.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a fire extinguishant discharge assembly and a fixed fire protection system incorporating a plurality of the assemblies in which each assembly is adapted to adjust to the particular location of a fire and direct its extinguishant discharge towards the fire.

Toward the fulfillment of these and other objects, the fluid discharge assembly of the present invention comprises a nozzle portion having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging said fluid, means for mounting said nozzle portion relative to a conduit for supplying fluid to said inlet for discharge from said out let in a predetermined direction, and means connected to said nozzle portion and responsive to an external stimulus for tilting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit and varying said direction of discharge. The discharge control system incorporates a plurality of fluid discharge assemblies of the above type connected to at least one fluid supply conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the fluid discharge assembly of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views taken along the lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively; and

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic, partial reduced elevational view depicting three discharge assemblies of the present invention incorporated in a flxed fire protection system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the discharge assembly of the present invention is shown in general by the reference numeral 10, and includes a nozzle body 12 the upper end portion of which is internally threaded as shown at 14. The discharge assembly 10 also includes a connector unit, shown in general by the reference number 16, having an externally threaded sleeve 17 in threaded engagement with the upper end portion 14 of the body 12. The connector unit 16 is adapted to connect the body 12 to a source of extinguishant, such as water, and will be described in detail later.

The lower end portion of the body 12 defines a flared outlet orifice 18 for discharging the water, and a spiral vane 19 is fixed within the body for imparting a swirling motion to water flowing downwardly therethrough to form a solid conical discharge pattern in a conventional manner. A hollow central hub 20 is defined in the vane 19 and supports a rod 22 having a plug 24 fixed on its lower end. A pair of ring seals26 are supported on the plug 24 and engage the inner wall of the body 12 to normally prevent water from discharging from the orifree 18. l

The rod 22 is latched in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a latching assembly shown in general by the reference numeral 30 in FIG. 1. This assembly includes a rod 32 which slidably extends through an externally threaded boss 34 projecting from the side of the body 12. One end of the rod 32 extends through the vane 19 and the wall of the central hub 20 into a slot 36 in the rod 22 to latchit in the position shown in FIG. 1.

A sleeve 38 is threaded on the end of the boss 34.

The outer end of the sleeve'38 is closed off by an externally threaded stub shaft 40 having a ring or yoke 42 thereon. Therod 32 slidably extends through the stub shaft 40, and the other end of the rod engages a conventional thermal fuse element 44 positioned within the ring 42. The fuse element 44 prevents movement of the rod 32 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, until the heat of a fire fuses the element :50 that it collapses. Since the fuse element 44 is the standard type com monly used in conventional sprinkler heads now on the market, it will not be described in greater detail.

The rod 32 has a piston head 46 mounted thereon which slidably engages the internal wall of the sleeve 38. A spring 48 is positioned between the boss 34 and the piston head 46 to bias the piston head and the rod 32 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 with a predetermined biasing force.

With this arrangement, the piston head 46 and the rod 32 will be driven to the right under the action of the spring 48 upon the fuse element 44 collapsing in response to the heat of the fire. This unlatches the rod 22 and allows it, along with the plug, 24, to be expelled from the outlet orifice 18. of the body 12, and permit the water to spray out through the orifice. With the vane 19 imparting a swirling action to the water as it passes through the body 12, the extinguishant discharge pattern from the outlet orifice 18 is in the form of a solid cone which diverges outwardly from the orifice.

A curved deflector plate 50 is mounted relative to the outlet orifice 18 in a manner to intercept a portion of the spray discharging from the outlet orifice and direct same outwardly and upwardly away from the normal solid conical spray pattern.

A screen 52 is bolted to the outer surface of the body 12 and is welded to the deflector plate 50 to support the plate relative to the body in a manner so that the upper surface of the plate is spaced slightly from the inner surface of the body 12 defining the outlet orifice 18. As a result, the portion of the spray intercepted by the plate 50 is broken up into a mist-like spray as it passes through the screen 52. It is understoodthat there are a plurality of axially spaced openings provided through the screen 52 for receiving the mounting bolts so that the position of the screen, and, therefore, the deflector plate 50, can be varied in order to vary the space between the upper surface of the plate and the inner surface of the body 12. This, of course, enables the amount of the discharge spray that is intercepted by the plate 50 and passed through the screen 52 to be adjusted.

The design is such that the deflector plate intercepts a relatively small portion of the conical discharge pattern from the outlet orifice 18, such as 842% depending on the position that the screen 52 is mounted on the body 12.

The connector unit 16 includes an expandable metal bellows 60 which connects the sleeve 17 to an internally threaded sleeve 62 which, in turn, is in threaded engagement with an external threaded portion of a T- connector 64. Two conduit portions forming a branch conduit 66 are connected to the T-connector 64 for supplying water to the assembly 10. The conduit 66 forms a portion of a complete fixed fire protection system, as will be described later.

A plurality of generally U-shaped curved bimetallic strips 68 are spaced around the bellows 60 and are connected at their respective ends to the

sleeve

17 and 62. The strips 68 are adapted to change their shape as a result of contraction and expansion due to temperature differentials in their immediate vicinity. A plurality of partitions 70 are connected at their lower edges to the upper surface ofthe sleeve 17, as viewed in FIG. 1, and are spaced around the bellows 60 at angular intervals, with each partition extending between a pair of adjacent strips 68 as shown in FIG. 3. The partitions 70 function to thermally isolate the various strips from each other for reasons that will be described later.

A fire protection system incorporating the discharge assemblies of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In particular, three assemblies, a, 10b, and 100 are shown mounted in an elevated position in a building 80 having a plurality of materials a-g stored therein. The assemblies 10a, 10b, and 106 are spaced apart a predetermined distance and are connected to the branch conduit 66 which is supplied with extinguishant from a source 82, it being understood that a number of risers, crossmain conduits, and other branch lines will normally be provided in accordance with conventional practice.

Upon a fire occurring in the building 80 in the vicinity of the materials e stored therein of a magnitude to actuate the thermal links 44 of the assemblies 10b and 100 which are located generally above the latter materials, the spring 48 of each assembly 10b and 100 will drive its respective rod 32 to the right and unlatch the rod 22 of each assembly. As a result, the plug 24 of each assembly 10b and 100 will be expelled from its respective body 12 under the force of the water, to permit the water to discharge from the orifices 18. The vanes 19 of each assembly 10b and 100 will cause the water to discharge from each assembly in the primary solid conical shaped discharge patterns shown by the reference letter X in FIG. 4. The deflector plates 50 associated with each assembly 10b and 100 intercept the outer peripheral portion of their respective sprays and deflect same through the screen 52 in arcuate patterns directed generally toward the ceiling of the building 80 as shown by the reference letter Y.

The combustion gases from the fire will travel vertically upwardly until they reach the ceiling of the building 80 and then travel in horizontal directions as shown toward the respective discharge assemblies 10b and 10c. Taking the discharge assembly 10c as an example, the relatively fine mist forming the spray pattern Y traveling upwardly toward the ceiling will be blown back towards the assembly 100 by the horizontally traveling combustion gases from the fire to thereby cool the portion of the strips 68 located on the left hand side of the assembly as viewed in FIG. 4 and cause these strips to contract. The remaining portion of the strips 68 of the assembly 10c will be heated by the radiation and convection effects from the fire and, therefore, will tend to expand, with the partition 70 thermally isolating the strips from eachother and thus facilitating the above contraction and expansion of the strips.

As a result ofthe above-mentioned contraction of the strips 68 on the left hand side of the assembly 10c and expansion of the strips on the-right hand side, the body 12 will tilt relative to the connector unit 16 towards the fire as shown, with the bellows 60 accommodating the tilting movement.

It can be appreciated that the discharge assembly 10b will operate in essentially the same manner as described above'with the exception that the bimetallic strips 68 located on the right side of the assembly 10b will contract as a result of the fine discharge spray therefrom being blown back towards the strips, while the strips shown generally on the left hand side of the assembly will expand from the convective and radiant heat effects from the fire, thus causing the body 12 of the assembly to tilt in the direction shown towards the fire.

As a result of the foregoing, a much more efficient utilization of the extinguishant is achieved which greatly enhances the fire fighting capabilities of the system.

Of course, other assemblies 10 on adjacent branch lines and located proximate to the assemblies 10b and may respond in a similar manner, depending on the magnitude of the tire.

it is understood that the discharge assembly 10 of the present invention can be adapted to respond to the system water pressure to control the opening of the assembly as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,655,136, also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Also, other types of discharge heads can be utilized within the scope of the invention, such as, for example, the discharge heads disclosed in applicants patent application Ser. No. 366,740 and Ser. No. 367,735, also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the

disclosures of which are also incorporated by reference.

It can readily be appreciated that the fluid discharge assembly and the discharge control system of the present invention have applications other than in a fire protection environment. For example, one or more discharge assemblies can be employed in a greenhouse, nursery or the like with their direction of discharge being variable in response to light, humidity, or any other similar type stimulus. Also, the assembly and system can be well adapted to a car wash or other similar application, in which case the discharge angle could be varied in response to the presence or location of a car.

Still further variations of the assembly and system disclosed above can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid discharge assembly comprising a nozzle portion having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging said fluid, means for mounting said nozzle portion relative to a conduit for supplying fluid to said inlet for discharge from said outlet in a predetermined direction, and means connected to said nozzle portion and responsive to a predetermined temperature occurring in the vicinity of said assembly for tilting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit and varying said direction of discharge, the degree of tilting of said nozzle portion being directly proportional to the value of temperatures occurring in the vicinity of said assembly above and below a predetermined norm.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a bellows connected at one end to said nozzle portion, and a sleeve connecting the other end of said bellows to said conduit.

3. The assembly ofclaim 2 wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of members connected at their ends to said nozzle portion and to said sleeve, respectively, said members adapted to change in size in response to said external stimulus.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said external stimulus is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity ofat least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said external stimulus is a relative low temperature occurring in the vicinity ofat least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to contract when subjected to said low temperature.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said fluid is a fire extinguishant and said high temperature is caused by the presence of a fire in the vicinity of said assembly.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said assembly is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire and wherein said extinguishant is normally discharged from said outlet in a generally downwardly direction and further comprising means for intercepting a portion of said extinguishant and discharging same in a generally upwardly direction.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said relatively low temperature is caused by said portion of said extinguishant being blown back towards at least a portion of said members by the gases from said fire.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising partition means associated with said members for isolating a portion of said members subjected to said relatively low temperature from a portion of said members subjected to said relatively high temperatures.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said nozzle portion is mounted'in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire, and wherein said external stimulus is a fire occurring at a random location in said space. said tilting means being adapted. to tilt said outlet of said nozzle portion towards said fire.

11. The assembly ofclaim 10 further comprising plug means disposed in said nozzle portion and normally preventing the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and means responsive to said occurrence of said fire for permitting the release of said plug means from said nozzle portion and the discharge of fluid from said outlet.

12. A fluid discharged control system comprising at least one fluid supply conduit, means connecting said fluid supply conduit to a source of fluid, a plurality of fluid discharge assemblies disposed in a spaced relationship along said conduit, each assembly comprising a nozzle portion having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging said fluid, means for mounting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit in a manner so that said conduit supplies fluid to said inlet for discharge from said outlet in a predetermined direction, and means connected to said nozzle portion and responsive to an external stimulus for tilting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit and varying said direction of discharge. 8

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said external stimulus is predetermined temperatures occurring in the vicinity of said system.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the degree of tilting of said nozzle portion is directly proportional to the value of temperatures occurring in the vicinity of said system above and below a predetermined norm.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said mounting means comprises a bellows connected at one end to said other end of said nozzle portion, and a sleeve connecting the other end of said bellows to said conduit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of members connected at their ends to said nozzle portion and to said sleeve, respectively, said members adapted to changein size in response to said external stimulus.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said external stimulus is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity ofat least a portion ofsaid members, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said external stimulus is a relative low temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to contract when subjected to said low temperature.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said fluid is a fire extinguishant and said high temperature is caused by the presence of a fire in the vicinity of said system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said conduit is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire and wherein said extinguishant is normally discharged from said outlet in a generally downwardly direction and further comprising means for intercepting a portion of said extinguishant and discharging same in a generally upwardly direction.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said relatively low temperature is caused by said portion of said extinguishant being blown back towards at least a portion of said members by the gases from said fire.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising partition means associated with said members for isolating a portion of said members subjected to said relatively low temperatures from a portion of said members subjected to said relatively high temperatures.

23. The system of claim 12 wherein said conduit is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire, and wherein said external stimulus is a fire occurring at a random location in said space, said tilting means being adapted to tilt said outlet of said nozzle portions towards said fire.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein each assembly further comprises plug means disposed in said nozzle portion and normally preventing the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and means responsive to said occurrence of said fire for permitting the release of said plug means from said nozzle portion and the discharge of fluid from said outlet.

25. A fluid discharge assembly comprising a nozzle portion having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging said fluid, means for mounting said nozzle portion relative to a conduit for supplying fluid to said inlet for discharge from said outlet in a predetermined direction, said mounting means permitting angular movement of said nozzle portion relative to said conduit, and means supported by said mounting means and responsive to a predetermined temperature occurring in the vicinity of said assembly for tilting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit and varying said direction of discharge.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the degree of tilting of said nozzle portion is directly proportional to the value of temperatures occurring in the vicinity of said assembly above and below a predetermined norm.

27. The assembly of claim 25 wherein said mounting means comprises a bellows, and a pair of sleeves connecting the ends of said bellows to said nozzle portion and to said conduit, respectively.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of members connected at their ends to said sleeves, said members adapted to change in size in response to said external stimulus.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said predetermined temperature is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said mem bers, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

30. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said predetermined temperature is a relatively low temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being ofa material adapted to contract when subjected to said low temperature.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein said fluid is a fire extinguishant and said high temperature is caused by the presence ofa fire in the vicinity of said assembly.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein said assembly is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected-from tire and wherein said extinguishant is normally discharged from said outlet in a generally downwardly direction and further comprising means for intercepting a portion of said extinguishant and discharging same in a generally upwardly direction.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein said relatively low temperature is caused by said portion of said extinguishant being blown back towards at least a portion of said members by the gases from said fire.

34. The assembly of claim 33 further comprising partition means associated with said members for isolating a portion of said members subjected to said relatively low temperatures from a portion of said members subjected to said relatively high temperatures.

35. The assembly of claim 25 wherein said nozzle portion is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire, and wherein said predetermined temperature is caused by a tire occurring at a random location in said space, said tilting means being adapted to tilt said outlet of said nozzle portion towards said fire.

36. The assembly of claim 35 further comprising plug means disposed in said nozzle portion and normally preventing the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and means responsive to said occurrence of said fire for permitting the release of said plug means from said nozzle portion and the discharge of fluid from said outlet. l= l i =l

Claims

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of members connected at their ends to said nozzle portion and to said sleeve, respectively, said members adapted to change in size in response to said external stimulus.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said external stimulus is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said external stimulus is a relative low temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to contract when subjected to said low temperature.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said nozzle portion is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire, and wherein said external stimulus is a fire occurring at a random location in said space, said tilting means being adapted to tilt said outlet of said nozzle portion towards said fire.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising plug means disposed in said nozzle portion and normally preventing the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and means responsive to said occurrence of said fire for permitting the release of said plug means from said nozzle portion and the discharge of fluid from said outlet.

12. A fluid discharged control system comprising at least one fluid supply conduit, means connecting said fluid supply conduit to a source of fluid, a plurality of fluid discharge assemblies disposed in a spaced relationship along said conduit, each assembly comprising a nozzle portion having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for discharging said fluid, means for mounting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit in a manner so that said conduit supplies fluid to said inlet for discharge from said outlet in a predetermined direction, and means connected to said nozzle portion and responsive to an external stimulus for tilting said nozzle portion relative to said conduit and varying said direction of discharge.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of members connected at their ends to said nozzle portion and to said sleeve, respectively, said members adapteD to change in size in response to said external stimulus.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said external stimulus is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said predetermined temperature is a relative high temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to expand when subjected to said high temperature.

30. The assembly of claim 28 wherein said predetermined temperature is a relatively low temperature occurring in the vicinity of at least a portion of said members, said members being of a material adapted to contract when subjected to said low temperature.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein said fluid is a firE extinguishant and said high temperature is caused by the presence of a fire in the vicinity of said assembly.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein said assembly is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire and wherein said extinguishant is normally discharged from said outlet in a generally downwardly direction and further comprising means for intercepting a portion of said extinguishant and discharging same in a generally upwardly direction.

35. The assembly of claim 25 wherein said nozzle portion is mounted in an elevated position in a space to be protected from fire, and wherein said predetermined temperature is caused by a fire occurring at a random location in said space, said tilting means being adapted to tilt said outlet of said nozzle portion towards said fire.

36. The assembly of claim 35 further comprising plug means disposed in said nozzle portion and normally preventing the discharge of fluid from said outlet, and means responsive to said occurrence of said fire for permitting the release of said plug means from said nozzle portion and the discharge of fluid from said outlet.