Fire protection sprinkler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9849320-B2
Application number	US-201414207377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A sprinkler assembly that includes a sprinkler frame, preferably formed from a plastic material. The sprinkler frame has a proximal portion, a distal portion, an external surface and an internal surface. The internal surface defines an internal passageway extending from an inlet formed in the proximal portion to an outlet formed in the distal portion to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis of the sprinkler assembly. A support member is preferably formed about the distal portion of the frame for supporting a deflector assembly with a pair of projection members. A deflector assembly including a deflector member and a receiving structure is engaged with the projection members to locate the deflector member at a fixed distance from the outlet of the sprinkler frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler assembly comprising:
a sprinkler frame having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an external surface and an internal surface, the internal surface defining an internal passageway extending from an inlet formed in the proximal portion to an outlet formed in the distal portion to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis of the sprinkler assembly;
a support member formed about the distal portion, the support member having at least one stanchion disposed radially about the support member having a proximal receiver portion proximate the outlet and a distal projection portion, the proximal receiver portion disposed radially about the support member; and
a deflector assembly including a proximal portion engaged with the receiver portion of the at least one stanchion, and a distal portion having a deflector member, the deflector assembly including a receiving structure engaged with the distal projection portion of the stanchion to locate the deflector member at a fixed distance from the outlet of the sprinkler frame in an unactuated state of the sprinkler assembly and remain at the fixed distance in an actuated state of the sprinkler assembly,
wherein the proximal receiver portion includes a radial inner component and a radial outer component disposed radially outward of the radial inner component to define an axially extending channel between the radial inner and outer components,
wherein the radial inner component is cantilevered off of the support member and extends radially away from a line parallel to the sprinkler axis to define an acute included angle such that the projection portion is biased radially outward into engagement with the receiver structure of the deflector assembly.

2. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial outer component is joined to the radial inner component to define a gap and a flexure between the components.

3. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axially extending channel is open at a proximal end and at a distal end for receipt of the proximal portion of the deflector assembly.

4. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection portion defines one of a tab, hook or wedge member.

5. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member is formed integrally with the distal portion of the sprinkler frame.

6. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member defines a circular geometry about the sprinkler axis.

7. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stanchion includes a plurality of stanchions diametrically opposed about the support member, and the deflector assembly includes a plurality of extension members extending from the deflector member, the extension members being received in the receiver portion of the stanchion.

8. The sprinkler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stanchion includes two stanchions diametrically opposed about the passageway.

9. A sprinkler assembly comprising:
a plastic sprinkler frame having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an external surface and an internal surface, the internal surface defining an internal passageway extending from an inlet formed in the proximal portion to an outlet formed in the distal portion to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis of the sprinkler assembly;
a support member formed about the distal portion of the sprinkler frame, the support member having a pair of receiving channels formed radially about the support member and a pair of projection members; and
a deflector assembly including a deflector member and a pair of extension members for receipt in the receiving channels and a receiving structure engaged with the projection members to locate the deflector member at a fixed distance from the outlet of the sprinkler frame,
wherein the pair of projection members are diametrically opposed about the passageway,
wherein the pair of extension members of the deflector assembly are formed about the deflector member, the receiver structure being defined by a closed form opening formed in each extension member, each of the projection members being received in one of the closed form openings.

10. The sprinkler assembly of claim 9 further comprising:
a seal assembly disposed in the outlet; and
a thermally responsive trigger assembly to control operation of the sprinkler assembly between an unactuated state and an actuated state, the thermally responsive trigger assembly including a thermally responsive element engaged between the seal assembly and the deflector member, the deflector member being located to support the thermally responsive element and the seal under a static fluid load of about 175 psi and more preferably up to about 500 psi in the unactuated state of the sprinkler assembly, the deflector member remaining at the fixed distance in the actuated state of the sprinkler assembly.

11. The sprinkler assembly of claim 10 , wherein the thermally responsive trigger assembly includes two thermally responsive bulbs spaced about and parallel to the sprinkler axis.

12. The sprinkler assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of radial inner components and a plurality of radial outer components relative to the sprinkler axis, the inner and outer components cooperating to define the pair of receiving channels as a pair of axially extending channels between the inner and outer components.

13. The sprinkler assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pair of projection members define one of a tab, hook or wedge member.

14. The sprinkler assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support member is formed integrally with the distal portion.

15. The sprinkler assembly of claim 9 , wherein the deflector member is centered between the pair of extension members.

Assignees

• Tyco Fire Products Lp

Inventors

• Ringer Yoram

Classifications

• A62C31/02

  Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing · CPC title

• A62C37/11 Primary

  heat-sensitive · CPC title

• A62C37/14

  with frangible vessels · CPC title