Flexible dry sprinkler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12029929-B2
Application number	US-202017014275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2020
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A fire sprinkler head has a valve with an X-brace latch, and includes a flexible conduit. A sprinkler nozzle is secured to a first end of the flexible conduit. The sprinkler nozzle includes a first fitting, a sprinkler orifice and fusible element. A second fitting is secured to the second end of the flexible conduit and includes the valve. The valve has a valve element which is moveable from a latched position to an unlatched position. A flexible link extends from the sprinkler nozzle to the X-brace valve latch. Breaking of the fusible element releases the flexible link to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, releasing the valve for flow there-through.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) an inlet having an inlet orifice;
(B) an inlet seal assembly configured to seal the inlet orifice, and having a spring seal that compresses in response to a load;
(C) an inlet release unit configured to release the inlet seal assembly;
(D) a flexible tube having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(E) a flexible linkage extending through the flexible tube, and having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(F) a bias member connected to the outlet end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the outlet end of the flexible linkage upon activation of the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler;
(G) a sprinkler body connected to the bias member, the sprinkler body having an outlet orifice; and
(H) an outlet seal assembly configured to seal the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body until ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature,

wherein, when the ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the outlet seal assembly is released from the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body, and the bias member displaces the flexible linkage in an outlet direction from a first position to a second position, causing the inlet end of the flexible linkage to operate the inlet release unit, thereby releasing the inlet seal assembly from the inlet orifice of the inlet.

2. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein bending of the flexible tube causes bending of the flexible linkage.

3. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet seal assembly includes: (a) an outlet seal configured to seal the outlet orifice; and (b) a thermally responsive element configured to hold the outlet seal in the outlet orifice prior to failing, and configured to fail at the predetermined temperature, wherein, when the thermally responsive element fails, the outlet seal is released from the outlet orifice, thereby activating the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler.

4. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) an inlet seal assembly configured to seal an inlet orifice, and having a spring seal that compresses in response to a load;
(B) an inlet release unit configured to release the inlet seal assembly;
(C) a flexible tube having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(D) a flexible linkage extending through the flexible tube, and having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(E) a bias member connected to the outlet end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the outlet end of the flexible linkage upon activation of the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler;
(F) a sprinkler body connected to the bias member, the sprinkler body having an outlet orifice; and
(G) an outlet seal assembly configured to seal the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body until ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature,
wherein, when the ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the outlet seal assembly is released from the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body, and the bias member displaces the flexible linkage, causing the inlet end of the flexible linkage to operate the inlet release unit, thereby releasing the inlet seal assembly from the inlet orifice.

5. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 4 , wherein the bias member displaces the flexible linkage in an outlet direction.

6. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 5 , wherein the bias member displaces the flexible linkage in the outlet direction from a first position to a second position.

7. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 4 , wherein bending of the flexible tube causes bending of the flexible linkage.

8. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 4 , wherein the outlet seal assembly includes an outlet seal that is configured to seal the outlet orifice.

9. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 8 , further comprising a thermally responsive element configured to hold the outlet seal in the outlet orifice prior to the thermally responsive element failing.

10. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 9 , wherein the thermally responsive element is configured to fail at the predetermined temperature.

11. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 10 , wherein, when the thermally responsive element fails, the outlet seal is released from the outlet orifice, thereby activating the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler.

12. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) a flexible tube having a first end and a second end;
(B) an inlet positioned at the first end of the flexible tube, the inlet defining an inlet orifice operatively sealed by an inlet seal having a spring seal that compresses in response to a load;
(C) an inlet release unit constructed to operatively release the inlet seal;
(D) an outlet positioned at the second end of the flexible tube;
(E) a flexible linkage extending between the inlet and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage having a first end and a second end and constructed to operatively release the inlet seal;
(F) a bias member connected to the second end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the second end of the flexible linkage upon activation of the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler;
(G) a fire sprinkler connected to the bias member comprising a sprinkler body having an outlet orifice operatively sealed by an outlet seal; and
(H) the outlet seal configured to seal the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body until ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature,

wherein, when the ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the outlet seal is released from the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body, and the bias member displaces the flexible linkage in an outlet direction from a first position to a second position, causing the first end of the flexible linkage to operate the inlet release unit, thereby releasing the inlet seal from the inlet orifice.

13. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler of claim 12 , wherein bending of the flexible tube causes bending of the flexible linkage.

14. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 12 , wherein the outlet seal comprises: (a) an outlet seal configured to seal the outlet orifice; and (b) a thermally responsive element configured to hold the outlet seal in the outlet orifice prior to failing, and configured to fail at the predetermined temperature, wherein, when the thermally responsive element fails, the outlet seal is released from the outlet orifice, thereby activating the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler.

15. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) a flexible tube having a first end and a second end;
(B) an inlet seal configured to seal an inlet orifice, and having a spring seal that compresses in response to a load;
(C) an inlet release unit configured to release the inlet seal;
(D) an outlet positioned at the second end of the flexible tube;
(E) a flexible linkage extending between the first end of the flexible tube and the outlet through the flexible tube, the flexible linkage having a first end and a second end and constructed to operatively release the inlet seal;
(F) a bias member connected to the second end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the second end of the flexible linkage upon a

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Shipman Buddy Clayton

Classifications

• A62C37/46

  Construction of the actuator · CPC title

• A62C37/12

  with fusible links · CPC title

• A62C37/11

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C3/004

  for freezing warehouses and storages · CPC title

• A62C37/48

  Thermally sensitive initiators · CPC title