Low-lead residential fire protection sprinklers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143873-B2
Application number	US-201113635314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2011
Priority date	Mar 15, 2010
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A fire protection sprinkler includes a body having an inlet end, including a threaded base configured to connect to a fluid supply conduit, an outlet end, and a water passage defined therein. The water passage includes an inlet orifice, provided at the inlet end of the body, an output orifice, provided at the outlet end of the body, and an interior surface formed of a material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less. A seal cap, that moves between a closed position, in which the seal cap seals the output orifice of the water passage, and thereby prevents flow of a fluid from the fluid supply conduit through the output orifice, and an open position, in which the seal cap does not seal the output orifice of the water passage, has water-exposed surfaces formed of a material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) a body having (a) an inlet end, including a threaded base configured to connect to a fluid supply conduit that supplies a fluid, (b) an outlet end, and (c) a water passage defined therein, the water passage including (i) an inlet orifice, provided at the inlet end of the body, (ii) an output orifice, provided at the outlet end of the body, and (iii) an interior surface coated with a layer of a polymeric material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less;
(B) a seal cap configured to move between (a) a sealed state, in which the seal cap seals the output orifice of the water passage, and thereby prevents flow of the fluid from the fluid supply conduit through the output orifice, and (b) an unsealed state, in which the seal cap does not seal the output orifice of the water passage, and the seal cap having water-exposed surfaces coated with a layer of the polymeric material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less;
(C) a thermally-responsive element positioned to releasably retain the seal cap in the sealed state, the thermally-responsive element configured to operate in response to ambient temperature reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby releasing the seal cap from the sealed state;
(D) at least two support members, each having (a) an upper end connected to the outlet end of the body, and (b) a lower end; and
(E) a deflector connected to the lower end of each of the at least two support members, and configured to deflect the fluid that flows through the output orifice upon release of the seal cap from the sealed state.

2. The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the fire protection sprinkler has a K-factor in a range from 2.8 gpm/(psi) 1/2 to 5.8 gpm/(psi) 1/2 , inclusive.

3. The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is fluorinated ethylene propylene.

5. A fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly configured to be mounted in a ceiling cavity of a residential occupancy, the assembly comprising:
(A) a fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(a) a body having (i) an inlet end, including a threaded base configured to connect to a fluid supply conduit that supplies a fluid, (ii) an outlet end, and (iii) a water passage defined therein, the water passage including (1) an inlet orifice, provided at the inlet end of the body, (2) an output orifice, provided at the outlet end of the body, and (3) an interior surface coated with a layer of a polymeric material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less;
(b) a seal cap configured to move between (i) a sealed state, in which the seal cap seals the output orifice of the water passage, and thereby prevents flow of the fluid from the fluid supply conduit through the output orifice, and (ii) an unsealed state, in which the seal cap does not seal the output orifice of the water passage, and the seal cap having water-exposed surfaces coated with a layer of the polymeric material having a weighted average lead content of 0.25% or less;
(c) a thermally-responsive element positioned to releasably retain the seal cap in the sealed state, the thermally-responsive element configured to operate in response to ambient temperature reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby releasing the seal cap from the sealed state;
(d) at least two support members, each having (i) an upper end connected to the outlet end of the body, and (ii) a lower end; and
(e) a deflector connected to the lower end of each of the at least two support members, and configured to deflect the fluid that flows through the output orifice upon release of the seal cap from the sealed state; and

(B) a support cup for supporting the fire protection sprinkler, the support cup comprising:
(a) a cylindrical threaded outer wall that surrounds a portion of the fire protection sprinkler; and
(b) a mounting platform with a central hole into which the body of the sprinkler is inserted.

6. The fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the fire protection sprinkler has a K-factor in a range from 2.8 gpm/(psi) 1/2 to 5.8 gpm/(psi) 1/2 , inclusive.

7. The fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the central hole of the mounting platform of the support cup has a threaded rim portion that interlocks with the threaded base of the body of the fire protection sprinkler.

8. The fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the central hole of the mounting platform of the support cup has tabs that interlock with the threaded base of the body of the fire protection sprinkler.

9. The fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. The fire protection sprinkler and support cup assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the polymeric material is fluorinated ethylene propylene.

Assignees

• Pahila Oliver S
• Tow John
• Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co Inc

Inventors

• Pahila Oliver S
• Tow John

Classifications

• A62C37/08

  comprising an outlet device containing a sensor, or itself being the sensor, i.e. self-contained sprinklers · CPC title

• A62C35/68 Primary

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