Flexible dry sprinkler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9358411-B2
Application number	US-201113176834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2011
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A fire sprinkler head ( 12 ) has a valve ( 42 ) with an X-brace latch ( 54 ), and includes a flexible conduit ( 14 ). A sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) is secured to a first end of the flexible conduit ( 14 ). The sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) includes a first fitting ( 28 ), a sprinkler orifice ( 20 ) and fusible element ( 22 ). A second fitting ( 40 ) is secured to the second end of the flexible conduit ( 14 ) and includes the valve ( 42 ). The valve ( 42 ) has a valve element ( 44 ) which is moveable from a latched position to an unlatched position. A flexible link ( 56 ) extends from the sprinkler nozzle ( 16 ) to the X-brace valve latch ( 54 ). Breaking of the fusible element ( 22 ) releases the flexible link ( 56 ) to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, releasing the valve ( 42 ) for flow there-through.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible dry sprinkler head comprising:
a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end, the flexible conduit being configured to couple to a fluid supply;
a sprinkler nozzle mounted at the first end of the flexible conduit, wherein the sprinkler nozzle includes an element that breaks when exposed to predetermined temperatures; and
a valve disposed proximate to the second end of the flexible conduit and having an open state and a closed state, the valve configured to allow fluid from the fluid supply to flow through the conduit when the valve is in the open state and to prevent fluid from the fluid supply from flowing through the conduit when the valve is in the closed state; and
a link that extends between and is coupled to the sprinkler nozzle and the valve, such that breaking of the element causes the link to allow the valve to move to the open state.

2. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 1 , wherein the link maintains the valve in the closed state before the element is broken.

3. A flexible dry sprinkler head comprising:
a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end, the flexible conduit being configured to be coupled to a fluid supply;
a sprinkler nozzle mounted at the first end of the flexible conduit, the sprinkler nozzle including an element that breaks when exposed to predetermined temperatures;
a valve disposed proximate to the second end of the conduit and having an open state and a closed state, the valve configured to allow fluid from the fluid supply to flow through the conduit when the valve is in the open state and to prevent fluid from the fluid supply to flow through the conduit when the valve is in the closed state; and
a flexible link extending within the conduit between the sprinkler nozzle and the valve,
wherein the sprinkler nozzle, valve and flexible link are configured such that breaking of the element causes the flexible link to allow the valve to move from the closed state to the open state.

4. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , wherein the flexible conduit includes a corrugated hose.

5. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 4 , wherein the flexible conduit includes an outer cover of braided metal.

6. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , wherein the flexible conduit is capable of being bent at a right angle.

7. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , wherein the valve comprises a valve element that is moveable from a latched position to a released position, the valve element maintaining the valve in the closed state when the valve element is in the latched position and allowing the valve to be in the open position when the valve element is in the released position.

8. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 7 , further comprising a link pin that is attached to a first end of the flexible link, the link pin interfaces with the valve element.

9. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 8 , wherein the link pin maintains the valve element in the latched position.

10. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 9 , wherein breaking of the element causes the flexible link to move toward the sprinkler nozzle, which disengages the link pin from the valve element.

11. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 10 , wherein the flexible link has a second end that is coupled to the sprinkler nozzle.

12. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , further comprising at least one brace provided in the flexible conduit between the sprinkler nozzle and the valve that centers the flexible link within the flexible conduit.

13. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , further comprising a bias member that is connected to the flexible link and that biases the flexible link toward the sprinkler nozzle.

14. The flexible dry sprinkler head of claim 3 , further comprising a bias member that is connected to the flexible link, wherein breaking of the element causes the bias member to pull on the flexible link.

Assignees

• Shipman Buddy Clayton
• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Shipman Buddy Clayton

Classifications

• A62C35/68 Primary

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

• A62C37/11 Primary

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C35/645

  with compressed gas in pipework · CPC title

• A62C37/14

  with frangible vessels · CPC title

• A62C35/62 Primary

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