Flexible dry sprinkler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143872-B2
Application number	US-201615155500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A fire sprinkler head ( 12 ) has a valve ( 42 ) with an X-brace latch ( 54 ), and includes a flexible conduit ( 14 ). A sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) is secured to a first end of the flexible conduit ( 14 ). The sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) includes a first fitting ( 28 ), a sprinkler orifice ( 20 ) and fusible element ( 22 ). A second fitting ( 40 ) is secured to the second end of the flexible conduit ( 14 ) and includes the valve ( 42 ). The valve ( 42 ) has a valve element ( 44 ) which is moveable from a latched position to an unlatched position. A flexible link ( 56 ) extends from the sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) to the X-brace valve latch ( 54 ). Breaking of the fusible element ( 22 ) releases the flexible link ( 56 ) to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, releasing the valve ( 42 ) for flow there-through.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible dry sprinkler comprising:
a flexible tube having a first end and a second end;
an inlet attached to the first end of the flexible tube, the inlet defining an inlet orifice operatively sealed by an inlet seal;
an outlet attached to the second end of the flexible tube, the outlet defining an outlet orifice operatively sealed by an outlet seal; and
a flexible linkage extending between the inlet and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage constructed to operatively release the inlet seal responsive to axial translation of the flexible linkage from a first position to a second position,
wherein the flexible linkage is supported by the outlet seal in the first position and wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to axially translate toward the outlet when the outlet seal is released.

2. The sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet includes a release unit constructed to operatively release the inlet seal, wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to operate the release unit when the flexible linkage translates from the first position to the second position.

3. The sprinkler according to claim 2 , further comprising a thermally responsive element supporting the outlet seal, wherein in a case where the thermally responsive element is in a responsive state, the outlet seal is released.

4. The sprinkler according to claim 3 , wherein the inlet seal is released in response to the flexible linkage translating in an outlet direction a predetermined distance to operate the inlet release unit.

5. The sprinkler according to claim 3 , wherein the outlet includes a fire sprinkler which supports the thermally responsive element and the outlet seal.

6. The sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet includes a connection portion for connection to a fluid supply.

7. The sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube is corrugated metal hose.

8. A flexible dry sprinkler system comprising:
one or more flexible dry sprinklers each comprising:
a flexible tube having a first end and a second end,
an inlet attached to the first end of the flexible tube, the inlet defining an inlet orifice operatively sealed by an inlet seal,
an outlet attached to the second end of the flexible tube, the outlet defining an outlet orifice operatively sealed by an outlet seal, and
a flexible linkage extending between the inlet and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage constructed to operatively release the inlet seal responsive to axial translation of the flexible linkage from a first position to a second position,
wherein the flexible linkage is supported by the outlet seal in the first position and wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to axially translate toward the outlet when the outlet seal is released; and

a fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with a fluid source and in fluid communication with the one or more flexible dry sprinklers.

9. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the fluid supply conduit is fluidly coupled to each inlet of the respective one or more flexible dry sprinklers.

10. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the inlet includes a release unit constructed to operatively release the inlet seal, wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to operate the release unit when the flexible linkage translates from the first position to the second position.

11. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 10 , further comprising a thermally responsive element supporting the outlet seal, and wherein in a case where the thermally responsive element is in a responsive state, the outlet seal is released and fluid from the fluid supply conduit is discharged through the outlet orifice.

12. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 11 , wherein the outlet includes a fire sprinkler which supports the thermally responsive element and the outlet seal.

13. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the inlet includes a connection portion for connection to the fluid supply conduit.

14. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 8 , wherein the flexible tube is corrugated metal hose.

15. A flexible dry sprinkler comprising:
a flexible tube having a first end and a second end;
an inlet attached to the first end of the flexible tube, the inlet defining an inlet orifice operatively sealed by an inlet seal assembly;
an outlet attached to the second end of the flexible tube, the outlet defining an outlet orifice operatively sealed by an outlet seal assembly; and
a flexible linkage extending between the inlet and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage constructed to operatively release the inlet seal assembly responsive to axial translation of the flexible linkage from a first position to a second position,
wherein the flexible linkage is supported by the outlet seal assembly in the first position and wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to axially translate toward the outlet when the outlet seal assembly is released.

16. The sprinkler according to claim 15 , wherein the inlet includes a release unit constructed to operatively release the inlet seal assembly, wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to operate the release unit when the flexible linkage translates from the first position to the second position.

17. The sprinkler according to claim 16 , wherein the outlet seal assembly includes a thermally responsive element and an outlet seal supported by the thermally responsive element, and wherein in a case where the thermally responsive element is in a responsive state, the outlet seal is released.

18. The sprinkler according to claim 17 , wherein the inlet seal assembly is released in response to the flexible linkage translating in an outlet direction a predetermined distance to operate the inlet release unit.

19. The sprinkler according to claim 17 , wherein the outlet includes a fire sprinkler which supports the thermally responsive element and the outlet seal.

20. The sprinkler according to claim 15 , wherein the inlet includes a connection portion for connection to a fluid supply.

21. The sprinkler according to claim 15 , wherein the flexible tube is corrugated metal hose.

22. A flexible dry sprinkler system comprising:
one or more flexible dry sprinklers each comprising:
a flexible tube having a first end and a second end,
an inlet attached to the first end of the flexible tube, the inlet defining an inlet orifice operatively sealed by an inlet seal assembly,
an outlet attached to the second end of the flexible tube, the outlet defining an outlet orifice operatively sealed by an outlet seal assembly, and
a flexible linkage extending between the inlet and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage constructed to operatively release the inlet seal assembly responsive to axial translation of the flexible linkage from a first position to a second position,
wherein the flexible linkage is supported by the outlet seal assembly in the first position and wherein the flexible linkage is constructed to axially translate toward the outlet when the outlet seal assembly is released; and

a fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with a fluid source and in fluid communication with the one or more flexible dry sprinklers.

23. The flexible dry sprinkler system according to claim 22 , wherein the fluid supply conduit is

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Shipman Buddy Clayton

Classifications

• A62C3/004

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title

• A62C37/48

  Thermally sensitive initiators · CPC title

• A62C35/68 Primary

  Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems (valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• A62C35/645

  with compressed gas in pipework · CPC title

• A62C37/11

  heat-sensitive · CPC title