Fire protection sprinkler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11020622-B2
Application number	US-201816017744-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2018
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A sprinkler assembly (10) having a receiving member (12), a fluid tight seal (44) and a sprinkler frame (14). The receiving member includes an inner surface (22) defining an internal passageway and a central axis (A-A) of the assembly. The frame of the sprinkler includes an internal surface (38) that defines a fluid passage. The sprinkler assembly includes cooperating positioning elements (28, 40) which engage and couple the sprinkler frame to the receiving member for at least one of an axial and rotational adjustment between the frame and receiving member. The engaged positioning elements facilitate formation or location of the fluid tight seal between the sprinkler frame and receiving member, the seal being spaced from the engaged positioning elements. In one aspect of the assembly, the sprinkler frame and receiving member are made of plastic material (e.g. CPVC).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler assembly for coupling to a fluid supply system, the sprinkler assembly comprising:
a receiver including an inner surface defining an internal passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end to define a central longitudinal axis of the assembly, the internal passageway tapering inwardly towards the central longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end to define a shoulder at a distal edge of the tapering of the internal passageway, the internal passageway does not increase in inner diameter between the proximal end and the shoulder, the shoulder comprising a stop surface at a distal portion of the shoulder, the shoulder protrudes radially inwardly into the internal passageway from the distal edge to the stop surface, the receiver having a first positioning element formed along the inner surface distal to the shoulder and the stop surface, the first positioning element comprises a first thread having an innermost diameter less than the inner diameter of the internal passageway; and
a sprinkler comprising:
a sprinkler frame including an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface defining a fluid passage having an inlet and an outlet, the fluid passage does not increase in diameter between the inlet and the outlet, the sprinkler frame having a second positioning element formed along the external surface of the sprinkler frame, the second positioning element engaged with the first positioning element to couple the sprinkler frame to the receiver, the second positioning element comprises a second thread, the stop surface of the shoulder of the receiver limits axial movement of the sprinkler frame in a proximal direction relative to the receiver caused by rotation of the first thread with the second thread while the first thread is engaged with the second thread; and
a fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and the external surface of the sprinkler frame, the seal being axially located about the longitudinal axis and between the outlet and at least one of the first positioning element and the second positioning element during the engagement between the first and second positioning elements.

2. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engagement between the first and second positioning elements provides axial and rotational adjustment between the first and second positioning elements while maintaining the fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and the external surface of the sprinkler frame.

3. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first thread is an internal thread and the second thread is an external thread.

4. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first thread and the second thread are one of straight pipe threads and cylindrical threads.

5. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first positioning element comprises a plurality of recesses and the second positioning element comprises a plurality of radial projections.

6. The sprinkler assembly of claim 5 , wherein the radial projections are radiused bumps.

7. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid tight seal comprises:
a sealing surface;
a groove; and
a sealing member housed in the groove and engaged with the sealing surface, the sealing member including an o-ring or other gasket.

8. The sprinkler assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sealing surface is formed in the inner surface of the receiver and the groove is formed in the external surface of the sprinkler frame.

9. The sprinkler assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sealing surface is formed in the external surface of the sprinkler frame and the groove is formed in the inner surface of the receiver.

10. A sprinkler assembly for coupling to a fluid supply system, the sprinkler assembly comprising:
a receiver including an inner surface defining an internal passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end to define a central longitudinal axis of the assembly, the receiver having a plurality of shelves circumscribed about the central longitudinal axis; and
a sprinkler comprising:
a sprinkler frame having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a plurality of resilient legs unitarily formed with a plurality of tabs; and
a deflector coupled to the sprinkler frame;

wherein the first end of the sprinkler frame is disposed in the internal passageway of the receiver such that the plurality of tabs engages the plurality of shelves to couple the sprinkler frame to the receiver.

11. The sprinkler assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and an external surface of the sprinkler frame.

12. The sprinkler assembly of claim 11 , wherein the fluid tight seal comprises an o-ring.

13. The sprinkler assembly of claim 11 , wherein the engagement between the plurality of tabs and the plurality of shelves provides axial and rotational adjustment between the plurality of tabs and the plurality of shelves while maintaining the fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and the external surface of the sprinkler frame.

14. A sprinkler assembly for coupling to a fluid supply system, the sprinkler assembly comprising:
a receiver including an inner surface defining an internal passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end to define a central longitudinal axis of the assembly, the receiver having a plurality of recesses circumscribed about the central longitudinal axis; and
a sprinkler comprising:
a sprinkler frame having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a plurality of resilient legs unitarily formed with a plurality of radiused bumps; and
a deflector coupled to the sprinkler frame;

wherein the first end of the sprinkler frame is disposed in the internal passageway of the receiver such that the plurality of radiused bumps engages the plurality of recesses to couple the sprinkler frame to the receiver.

15. The sprinkler assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and an external surface of the sprinkler frame.

16. The sprinkler assembly of claim 15 , wherein the fluid tight seal comprises an o-ring.

17. The sprinkler assembly of claim 15 , wherein the engagement between the plurality of radiused bumps and the plurality of recesses provides axial and rotational adjustment between the plurality of radiused bumps and the plurality of recesses while maintaining the fluid tight seal between the inner surface of the receiver and the external surface of the sprinkler frame.

Assignees

• Tyco Fire Products Lp

Inventors

• Abels Bernhard
• Silva Jr Manuel R
• Ancone Mathew R

Classifications

• A62C37/09

  telescopic or adjustable · CPC title

• A62C31/28

  Accessories for delivery devices, e.g. supports · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B05B15/65

  Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits · CPC title

• A62C35/68 Primary

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