Preaction sprinkler valve assemblies, related dry sprinkler devices, and compressive activation mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850144-B2
Application number	US-201715623048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A thermal trigger assembly for remote mechanical actuation of another fire protection system component includes an activation component with a distal base, a distal movable member, a proximal base, a proximal movable member, and a bias member biasing the proximal movable member from a preactivation position to an activated position located proximally of the preactivation position. A thermally responsive element is retained by the distal base, loses structural integrity under occurrence of a predetermined thermodynamic condition, and thereby allows the distal movable member to move from a preactivation position to an activated position with respect to the distal base. A flexible connector connects the proximal movable member to the distal movable member. Upon the loss of structural integrity by the thermally responsive element, a biasing force from the bias member causes a movement of the proximal movable member from the preactivation position to the activated position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A thermal trigger assembly configured for remote mechanical actuation of a fire protection system component, the thermal trigger assembly comprising:
an activation component including
a proximal base having a proximal end and a distal end with respect to the fire protection system component,
a proximal movable member, the proximal movable member being movable with respect to the proximal base,
a distal base, the distal base being located farther from the fire protection system component than the proximal base,
a distal movable member,
a bias member located with respect to the proximal base to bias the proximal movable member from a preactivation position to an activated position with respect to the proximal base, the activated position being located upstream with respect to the preactivation position,
a thermally responsive element retained by the distal base until a predetermined thermodynamic condition occurs, the thermally responsive element being configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition and thereby allow the distal movable member to move from the preactivation position to the activated position with respect to the distal base, and
a flexible connector having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the proximal movable member and the distal end connected to the distal movable member, such that the thermally responsive element retains the distal movable member in the preactivation position with respect to the distal base and also retains the proximal movable member in the preactivation position with respect to the proximal base, and such that upon the loss of structural integrity by the thermally responsive element, a biasing force from the bias member causes a movement of the proximal movable member from the preactivation position of the proximal movable member to the activated position of the proximal movable member.

2. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible connector comprises:
a flexible hollow outer cable housing with a proximal housing end configured to be stationarily connected with respect to the proximal base and a distal housing end configured to be stationarily connected with respect to the distal base, and
a flexible inner member located inside the flexible hollow outer cable housing for movement within the flexible outer cable housing and having a proximal inner member end and a distal inner member end, the proximal inner member end being stationarily connected with the proximal movable member and the distal inner member end being stationarily connected with the distal movable member.

3. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fire protection component is a valve having
a body,
an open state,
a closed state,
an annular seal,
a shaft configured to support the annular seal in the closed state, and
a support assembly configured to support the shaft in the closed state, the support assembly comprising a lever supporting the shaft,
wherein the proximal movable member is operatively connected to the support assembly such that movement of the proximal movable member acts on the support assembly such that the lever moves and the valve changes from the closed state to the open state.

4. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the proximal movable member causes the movement of the lever by releasing a latch from the lever.

5. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the proximal movable member causes the movement of the lever by transmitting a compressive force upon a component other than the latch.

6. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the support assembly further comprises a screw oriented substantially collinear with the shaft, the screw acting upon the support assembly and the shaft, the screw applying a force to the annular seal to maintain the valve in the closed state.

7. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body of the valve has an inlet and an outlet and a fluid passageway connecting the inlet with the outlet, and the combination further comprises at least one water distribution device fluidly coupled with the outlet.

8. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 7 , wherein a pipe connects the at least one water distribution device to the outlet.

9. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inlet is fluidly connected to a water supply line.

10. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fire protection component is a valve having
a body,
an open state,
a closed state,
an annular seal,
a shaft configured to support the annular seal in the closed state, and
a support assembly configured to support the shaft in the closed state, the support assembly comprising a lever supporting the shaft,

wherein the lever is retained in a sealing position by a frangible support engaged with the lever until a movement of the proximal movable member causes a collapse of the frangible support.

11. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flexible connector comprises:
a flexible hollow outer cable housing with a proximal housing end configured to be stationarily connected with respect to the proximal base and a distal housing end configured to be stationarily connected with respect to the distal base, and
a flexible inner member located inside the flexible hollow outer cable housing for movement within the flexible outer cable housing and having a proximal inner member end and a distal inner member end, the proximal inner member end being stationarily connected with the proximal movable member and the distal inner member end being stationarily connected with the distal movable member, and

wherein the proximal inner member end causes the collapse by transmitting a force to the frangible support.

12. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 11 , wherein the force causing the collapse of the frangible element is a compressive force exerted by the proximal movable member.

13. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support assembly further comprises a screw oriented substantially collinear with the shaft, the screw acting upon the support assembly and the shaft, the screw applying a force to the annular seal to maintain the valve in the closed state.

14. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 6 , wherein the body of the valve has an inlet and an outlet and a fluid passageway connecting the inlet with the outlet, and the combination further comprises at least one water distribution device fluidly coupled with the outlet.

15. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 14 , wherein a pipe connects the at least one water distribution device to the outlet.

16. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 15 , wherein the inlet is fluidly connected to a water supply line.

17. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal movable member in the activated position is sealingly engaged with the proximal base, and the proximal movable member comprises a weep hole passage permitting fluid communication between a proximal portion of the body of the proximal base with respect to the proximal movable member and a distal portion of the body of the proximal base with respect to the proximal movable member.

18. The thermal trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal base comprises:
a body with a proximal end, a distal end, and an extension extending distally from the distal end, the extension supporting the thermally responsive element,
a fulcrum supported by the body,
a platform engaged with the fulcrum, the distal

Assignees

• Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp
• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Meyer Stephen J
• Archibald Thomas Edwin
• MAUGHAN Kevin Desmond
• Ringer Yoram
• Desrosier John

Classifications

• A62C37/42

  with mechanical connection between sensor and actuator, e.g. rods, levers · CPC title

• A62C37/12

  with fusible links · CPC title

• A62C35/68 Primary

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

• A62C35/62

  dry, i.e. empty of extinguishing material when not in use · CPC title

• A62C3/004

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title