Preaction sprinkler valve assemblies, related dry sprinkler devices and fire protection sprinkler systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11547888-B2
Application number	US-202117340849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2021
Priority date	Jul 28, 2015
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A thermal trigger assembly for remote mechanical actuation of another fire protection system component includes an activation component having a base and a movable member. A bias member biases the movable member from a preactivation to an activated position with respect to the base. A thermally responsive element retains the movable member in the preactivation position until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, when the thermally responsive element loses structural integrity. A flexible connector includes a flexible hollow outer cable housing with one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the base. A flexible cable is inside the outer cable housing for sliding movement therein and has one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the movable member. The flexible cable is moved with respect to the outer cable housing by movement of the movable member upon loss of structural integrity by the thermally responsive element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination for a fire protection system connected to a piping of a building, the combination comprising:
a valve having
a body, an inlet, an outlet, an open state, and a closed state; and
a support assembly configured to maintain the valve in the closed state;

an activation component including
a base,
a movable member movable with respect to the base,
a bias member providing a biasing force to the movable member to bias the movable member from a preactivation position to an activated position;

a thermally responsive element providing a retaining force to retain the movable member in the preactivation position only until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, the thermally responsive element being configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition, permitting the movable member to move from the preactivation position to the activated position;
a flexible member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being operatively connected with the support assembly of the valve, and the second end being operatively connected with the movable member of the activation component;
a fluid conduit having an upstream end fluidly connected to the outlet of the valve, an interior portion, and a downstream end; and
a downstream body including
a fluid outlet port fluidly connected to the downstream portion of the fluid conduit, and
a chamber having a flexible-member opening, the chamber containing the activation component; and

a water distribution device fluidly connected to the fluid outlet port;
wherein, when the predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, the movable member moves from the preactivation position to the activated position, and the movement of the movable member causes a movement of the flexible member, and the flexible member operatively acts on the support assembly so that the valve changes from the closed state to the open state.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the valve has an annular seal, and the support assembly comprises a lever supporting the annular seal.

3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member extends through the interior portion of the fluid conduit.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the thermally responsive element is one of an alcohol filled glass bulb and a fusible link.

5. A combination for a fire protection system connected to a piping of a building, the combination comprising:
a valve having
a body, an inlet, an outlet, an open state, and a closed state; and
a support assembly configured to maintain the valve in the closed state;

an activation component including
a base,
a movable member movable with respect to the base,
a bias member providing a biasing force to the movable member to bias the movable member from a preactivation position to an activated position;

a thermally responsive element providing a retaining force to retain the movable member in the preactivation position only until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, the thermally responsive element being configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition, permitting the movable member to move from the preactivation position to the activated position;
a flexible member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being operatively connected with the support assembly of the valve, and the second end being operatively connected with the movable member of the activation component;
a fluid conduit having an upstream end fluidly connected to the outlet of the valve, and a downstream end; and
a fitting fluidly connected to the downstream end of the fluid conduit, the fitting having
an inlet,
a fluid outlet port fluidly connected to the inlet and forming a fluid path from the inlet of the fitting to the outlet of the fitting, and
a chamber having a flexible-member opening, the chamber containing the activation component, and
a water distribution device fluidly connected to the fluid outlet port of the fitting,

wherein, when the predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, the movable member moves from the preactivation position to the activated position, and the movement of the movable member causes a movement of the flexible member, and the flexible member operatively acts on the support assembly so that the valve changes from the closed state to the open state.

6. The combination of claim 5 , wherein the valve has an annular seal, and the support assembly comprises a lever supporting the annular seal.

7. The combination of claim 5 , wherein the flexible member extends through the interior portion of the fluid conduit.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the thermally responsive element is one of an alcohol filled glass bulb and a fusible link.

9. A combination for a fire protection system connected to a piping of a building, the combination comprising:
a valve having
a body, an open state, and a closed state; and
a support assembly configured to maintain the valve in the closed state;

an activation component including
a base,
a securement member movable with respect to the base,
a bias member providing a biasing force to the securement member urging the securement member from a preactivation position to an activated position,
a thermally responsive element providing a retaining force to retain the securement member in the preactivation position only until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, the thermally responsive element being configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition,

a flexible member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being operatively connected with the support assembly of the valve, and the second end being operatively connected with the securement member;

wherein the securement member engages the flexible member to allow the flexible member to move relative to the securement member in a downstream direction with respect to the valve; and
wherein the securement member engages the flexible member to resist the flexible member moving relative to the securement member in an upstream direction with respect to the valve, so that upon movement of the securement member in the downstream direction, the securement member acts on the flexible member to transmit the movement of the securement member to the flexible member, and the flexible member acts on the support assembly so that the valve changes from the closed state to the open state.

10. The combination of claim 9 , wherein the valve has an annular seal, and the support assembly comprises a lever supporting the annular seal.

11. The combination of claim 9 , wherein the flexible member extends through the interior portion of the fluid conduit.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein the thermally responsive element is one of an alcohol filled glass bulb and a fusible link.

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Meyer Stephen J
• Ringer Yoram
• Archibald Thomas Edwin

Classifications

• F16K31/002

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• F16K31/465

  by flexible transmission means, e.g. cable, chain, bowden wire · CPC title

• F16K1/2007

  specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00) · CPC title

• A62C37/11

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C3/004

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title