Dry sprinkler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11712591-B2
Application number	US-202117397357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2021
Priority date	Aug 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A dry sprinkler assembly for fire suppression uses a tube within a pipe element to maintain a spring loaded valve in a closed position at the end of the pipe element connected to a piping network. The tube is held against the biasing force of the valve's spring by a plug, part of a temperature sensitive trigger assembly mounted on the opposite end of the pipe element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dry sprinkler assembly for use with a piping network of a fire suppression system, said dry sprinkler assembly comprising:
a pipe element having a first end attachable in fluid communication with said piping network;
a valve positioned within said pipe element proximate to said first end, said valve having a closed configuration preventing fluid flow through said pipe element, and an open configuration permitting fluid flow through said pipe element;
a fire suppression sprinkler mounted on a second end of said pipe element, said sprinkler defining a bore in fluid communication with said pipe element and comprising:
a temperature sensitive trigger assembly having a first configuration engaged with said bore when an ambient temperature is below a predetermined threshold and a second configuration released from engagement with said bore when said ambient temperature reaches or exceeds said predetermined threshold;
a tube coaxially positioned within said pipe element, said tube having an outer perimeter smaller than an inner perimeter of said pipe element and being moveable lengthwise along said pipe element, said valve being mounted on a first end of said tube, wherein said tube comprises a sidewall defining a plurality of openings therethrough; and
a flow conditioning collar engaged with said tube proximate to a second end thereof, said collar overlying at least a portion of said plurality of openings in said sidewall of said tube; wherein
when said valve is in said open configuration and said temperature sensitive trigger assembly is released from said engagement with said bore, said sprinkler assembly achieving a discharge rate equal to or greater than a k factor of 17.

2. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said tube has a round cross section with an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said pipe element.

3. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said openings comprise a plurality of slots oriented lengthwise along said tube.

4. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of said sidewall proximate to said second end of said tube has no openings therethrough.

5. The dry sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein said openings comprise at least 30% of a surface area of said sidewall.

6. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises:
a seat mounted proximate to said first end of said pipe element;
a platform pivotably mounted on said first end of said tube;
an obturation body mounted on said platform, said obturation body being pivotable between a first position facing said seat and engageable therewith, and a second position angularly oriented relative to said seat.

7. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said obturation body comprises a Bellville washer.

8. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pivot support mounted on said first end of said tube
a platform pivotably mounted on said pivot support;
a stop surface positioned on said pivot support;
a projection extending from said platform and engageable with said stop surface to limit pivoting motion of said platform.

9. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising a biasing spring acting between said tube and said platform for biasing said obturation body into said second position.

10. The dry sprinkler according to claim 9 , wherein said spring comprises a coil spring.

11. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sprinkler comprises:
a body defining said bore;
a pair of arms extending from said body away from said second end of said pipe element;
a deflector plate mounted on said arms, said temperature sensitive trigger assembly being positioned between said deflector plate and said pipe element.

12. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said temperature sensitive trigger assembly comprises a frangible vial filled with a heat sensitive liquid.

13. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said sprinkler comprises at least one stop surface engageable with said tube to limit sliding motion thereof relative to said pipe element.

14. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said stop surface comprises at least one projection extending from one of said arms.

15. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said sprinkler further comprises a nipple extending from said body, said nipple having male screw threads thereon.

16. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 15 , wherein:
said sprinkler comprises a shoulder on said body, said shoulder projecting into said bore, said shoulder defining said at least one stop surface;
said tube comprises at least one detent projecting outwardly therefrom, said at least one detent being positioned in spaced relation from said second end of said tube and engageable with said at least one stop surface upon motion of said tube within said pipe element.

17. The dry sprinkler according to claim 16 , wherein said shoulder comprises an annulus surrounding said bore.

18. The dry sprinkler according to claim 16 , wherein said body comprises female threads surrounding said bore.

19. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature sensitive trigger assembly comprises a plug.

20. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 19 , wherein said plug comprises a plurality of plug bodies engageable with said bore, said plug bodies defining a gap permitting draining of condensate from said pipe element.

21. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 20 , further comprising a trigger bearing engageable with said plurality of plug bodies.

22. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe element has a wall thickness less than 0.095 inches.

23. The dry sprinkler assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sprinkler comprises:
a body defining said bore, said body comprising female threads surrounding said bore;
a pair of arms extending from said body away from said second end of said pipe element, said second end of said pipe element having male screw threads thereon engaging said female threads surrounding said bore.

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Pechacek Stephen

Classifications

• A62C3/004 Primary

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title

• A62C37/11

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C35/62 Primary

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

• A62C37/14 Primary

  with frangible vessels · CPC title

• A62C35/68

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