The Viking Corporation

Other

James G Retzloff

Scott Thomas Franson

Perin E Truax

Gerald W Sanders

Thomas E Winebrenner

John B Ramsey

A cover plate for a concealed sprinkler includes a member having at least one passageway section enabling heated air to pass between the cover plate and the sprinkler housing and towards the sprinkler head to permit the timely activation of the sprinkler head. The passageway section is defined by an outwardly extending peripheral rim of the cover plate or by a cutout section along one edge enabling air to pass therethrough. The cover plate includes a plurality of mounting tabs upon which a fusible material is applied to adhere the cover plate to the housing of the sprinkler head. The cover plate increases the response time of the concealed sprinkler head while maintaining a low profile, discrete appearance.

Cover plate for concealed sprinkler

A cover plate for a concealed sprinkler includes a member having at least one passageway section enabling heated air to pass between the cover plate and the sprinkler housing and towards the sprinkler head to permit the timely activation of the sprinkler head. In one embodiment, the passageway section is defined by one or more undulations formed within the cover plate, each of which define a ridge at the periphery, enabling air to pass therethrough. The cover plate includes a plurality of mounting tabs upon which a fusible material is applied to adhere the cover plate to the housing of the sprinkler head. The cover plate of the present invention increases the response time of the concealed sprinkler head while maintaining a low profile, discrete appearance.

A cover plate for a concealed sprinkler includes a member having at least one passageway section enabling heated air to pass between the cover plate and the sprinkler housing and towards the sprinkler head to permit the timely activation of the sprinkler head. In one preferred form, the passageway section is defined by at least one lip projecting from the periphery of the cover plate, away from the sprinkler head. Alternatively, the cover plate may include a peripheral rim projecting away from the sprinkler head. In another preferred embodiment, the passageway section is defined by one or more undulations formed within the cover plate, each of which define a ridge at the periphery, enabling air to pass therethrough. The cover plate is substantially planar and includes a plurality of mounting tabs upon which a fusible material is applied to adhere the cover plate to the housing of the sprinkler head. The cover plate of the present invention increases the response time of the concealed sprinkler head while maintaining a low profile, discrete appearance so as not to detract from the sidewall or other structure upon which it is supported.

A combined trigger and concealing device for an automatic sprinkler head comprises a first plate attached to a second plate by a heat fusible material in a partially overlapping manner. Each plate is formed with an aperture which receives an actuator depending from the bottom of the sprinkler head. The trigger device depends a preselected distance from the bottom of the sprinkler head body and has an outer dimension which causes the trigger device to conceal the internal components of the sprinkler head from view. An annulus defined between the periphery of the device and the bottom of the sprinkler head permits heat energy to be received by the inner surface of the trigger device. Conduction of heat energy from both the inner and outer surface of the trigger device permits the heat fusible material to be expeditiously raised to the preselected separation temperature. This uniform thermal conduction minimizes the response time of the automatic sprinkler head while maintaining a highly aesthetic appearance.

Combined trigger and concealing device for a sprinkler head

A fire extinguishing sprinkler nozzle includes a body defining a central channel or bore through which water flows during a fire. The sprinkler nozzle includes a fluid flow thrust reverser disposed over the orifice of the central channel such that water exiting out of the channel impinges the thrust reverser. The direction of water flow is reversed by the thrust reverser. After exiting the thrust reverser, the water impinges the impact surface of deflector disposed around the periphery of the sprinkler body. An upright sprinkler nozzle is thereby provided in which the water has a downward momentum prior to its impinging the impact surface of the deflector that is comparable to a pendent sprinkler head. The sprinkler nozzle is activated by conventional fire detecting or heat sensitive structures.

Thrust reverser sprinkler head

The fire suppression system includes a system piping, with at least one sprinkler, a flow control valve, a fire suppressant delivery line in fluid communication with the flow control valve, at least one fire detector adapted to detect temperatures associated with fire, and a control system. The control system is in communication with the fire detector, the flow control valve and the system piping. The control system is adapted to detect a flow condition and a no-flow condition in the system piping and actuates the flow control valve between a normally open condition and a closed condition when the fire detector is in a no-fire condition state and the control system detects a flow condition in the piping system and may cycle the flow control valve to open when the flow control valve is closed in response to the fire detector being in a fire condition state.

Wet pipe fire protection system

A sprinkler head assembly has a stamped mounting element for supporting a thermally activated triggering member in a sprinkler head assembly, and a method forms the same. The mounting element comprises a central base including a seat for supporting the triggering member. A first pair of arms, having a longitudinal extent, extend from a first face of the base at an angle less than 180 degrees. A second pair of arms, having a longitudinal extent, extend from the first face of the base at an angle less than 180 degrees. The longitudinal extent of at least one of the arms is greater than the longitudinal extent of the other arms to define a recess for cooperatively engaging the sprinkler head assembly. The mounting element is stamped from generally planar stock to form arms having varied lengths and, thus, create a saddle-shaped recess that slidably mounts on a frame of the sprinkler head assembly. The mounting element is preferably formed by progressive stamping techniques and accommodates various dimensions and tolerances of the sprinkler head frame and thermally responsive triggering member.

Sprinkler head with stamped trigger-mounting elements

A sprinkler head includes a powdered metal base including external threads for threadably engaging a water pipe, and a stamped metal frame attached to the base. The base defines a passageway for receiving water from the water pipe and an opening to the passageway. The powdered metal base is infiltrated with copper or vacuum infiltrated anaerobic resin to provide a hydrostatically leak tight composition capable of withstanding 700 psi. A deflector is attached to the frame for distributing water dispensed from the opening. A circular plate or circular spring sealingly covers the opening, and a pip is engaged with the frame creating a space therebetween. A frangible bulb is positioned in the space between the Belleville spring. The frangible bulb is made of a temperature-sensitive material that fractures at a predetermined temperature and thus allows water pressure from water in the water pipe to unseat the spring and thus spray water. A capacitor discharge weld is shown for connecting the frame to the base and for connecting the base to the pip so that the frangible bulb is retained with a predetermined force despite dimensional variation in the frangible bulb.

Temperature sensitive sprinkler head with improved spring

A check valve assembly adapted for use in a fire protection system includes a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, a seat and a chamber. A clapper or valve element is mounted within the chamber for movement towards and away from the seat. A parallelogram linkage supports the clapper. A pair of draw bars extend diagonally between opposed links. Each draw bar defines a stop. A coil spring encircles the draw bars and engages the stops. Expansion of the coil spring forces the draw bars apart and resiliently biases the clapper or valve element against the valve seat.

Check valve with spring loaded clapper assembly

A concealed sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler head having a body defining a nozzle, an arm structure extending from the nozzle and a deflector mounted on the arm assembly opposite the nozzle. A mounting or gauge base is secured to the sprinkler head. The base positions the deflector and head with respect to a ceiling. A cover plate is snapped onto the sprinkler head assembly by a pair of metal clips. The clips are fabricated from a material which returns towards an original prebent configuration upon being exposed to a predetermined ambient temperature thereby releasing the cover plate from the assembly.

Concealed sprinkler assembly

A sprinkler head includes a nozzle, a frame and a rigid mechanical fusible link assembly positioned between the frame and a closure plug or cap. An annular, normally concave spring is disposed between the cap and the nozzle. The spring creates a force which throws the link assembly clear of the head upon actuation.

Growing community of inventors

Lansing, MI, United States of America

James G Retzloff