Patent Grant
9717936
Automatic sprinkler systems are some of the most widely used devices for fire protection. These systems have sprinklers that are actuated once the ambient temperature in an environment, such as a room or building exceeds a predetermined value. Once activated, the automatic sprinklers distribute fire-extinguishing fluid, preferably water, in the room or building. Generally, an automatic sprinkler includes a sprinkler frame, a fluid deflecting element and a thermally responsive trigger which: (i) works with a fluid seal member to seal the sprinkler in an unactuated state of the sprinkler; and (ii) operates or actuates in response to an appropriate level of ambient temperature to release the seal in an actuated state of the sprinkler
A typical sprinkler frame includes a body having an inlet end configured to couple the sprinkler to a fluid supply pipe and an outlet end to discharge the fire fighting fluid. The sprinkler body includes a fluid passageway which defines a central sprinkler axis. Depending from the body are a pair of frame arms which support the fluid deflecting element. Shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,336,509 and 5,664,630 are known sprinkler frame arrangements. As shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,630, a thermal trigger in the form of a glass bulb can be mounted between the frame arms and axially aligned along the sprinkler axis (directly loaded position) to support a fluid seal member at the outlet of the sprinkler. A thermally responsive glass-bulb type thermal trigger contains an expansible liquid that expands with rising temperatures to cause the glass bulb to break into small fragments at a predetermined nominal release temperature range, i.e., the nominal temperature rating, thereby actuating the sprinkler Thermal responsiveness or sensitivity can be defined as the rapidity with which a trigger operates in response to a fire or other heat source. Accordingly, thermal responsiveness may be characterized as either standard response, quick-response or fast-response.
One measure of thermal sensitivity of a heat responsive element or trigger is the Response Time Index or “RTI,” which is related to the thermal inertia of the element. According to the description in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,532, when “fast response” was being investigated in the 1980's, “standard sprinklers” were found to have an RTI of more than 100 meter1/2second1/2 (“m1/2sec1/2”) or more typically up to nearly 400 m1/2sec1/2; and for sprinklers that were found to thermally respond faster than standard sprinklers, the RTI was found to be less than 100 m1/2sec1/2. Currently under NFPA 13, Section 3.6.1, a “fast response” sprinkler is defined as a sprinkler having a thermal element with an RTI of 50 m12sec1/2 or less; and a “standard response” sprinkler is defined as a sprinkler having a thermal element with an RTI of 80 m1/2sec1/2 or more. Historically, a class of “special” faster operating sprinkler had been recognized having RTI's between 80 and 50 m1/2sec1/2. For one type of fast-response sprinkler, the early suppression fast response (“ESFR”) sprinkler, the thermal trigger has an RTI of 50 m1/2sec1/2 or less, more particularly 40 m1/2sec1/2 and even more particularly 19 to 36 m1/2sec1/2. It was once believed for fast-growing industrial fires of the type to be protected by ESFR sprinklers, that the RTI and the temperature rating together ensured adequate fast sprinkler response. Accordingly, some ESFR sprinklers include a trigger having an RTI of less than 40 m1/2sec1/2 and a temperature rating of 165° F. or 214° F. However, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,532 one embodiment of a sprinkler provided suppression of a high challenge fire with an trigger having an RTI of less than 100 m1/2sec1/2. Accordingly, as used herein, fast-response triggers can be characterized by RTI's of less than 100 m1/2sec1/2; 80 m1/2sec1/2 or less; 50 m1/2sec1/2 or less; 40 or less m1/2sec1/2 or ranging between 19 to 36 m1/2sec1/2.
The frame arms define a window about the thermal trigger. Heat flow in a direction through the frame window and normal to the plane defined by the frame arms is unobstructed to impact the thermal trigger. Depending on the construction of the frame arms and/or trigger, the arms may interfere with the heat flow in the plane of the window and directed laterally to the frame arms, which can inhibit the heat transfer to the thermal trigger thereby delaying responsiveness of the sprinkler To eliminate or minimize the interference of the frame arms in some sprinklers, particularly those requiring a fast response such as for example Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers, the thermal trigger is off-set from the sprinkler axis to ensure appropriate thermal responsiveness. Alternatively or in addition to, the trigger may include additional structures, such as for example, heat conducting fins, as seen for example in FIG. 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,179 to facilitate the responsiveness of the trigger. Instead of using a glass-type bulb trigger, a sprinkler may alternatively use a multi-component trigger assembly such as, for example, a lever and strut solder assembly. These alternative trigger arrangements however, present more components and complexity as compared to the axially disposed bulb.
There are industry accepted test standards to evaluate thermal sensitivity of a sprinkler and its trigger. For example, a “Sensitivity Test” is described in Section 21 of the UL Standard for Early-Suppression Fast-Response Sprinklers UL 1767 (2010) a copy of which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414. A similar test is set forth in another standard: the “Sensitivity-Response Time Index (RTI)” test described in section 4.28 of the FM Approval Standard Class No. 2008 (2006), which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414. As described in the test standards, the sensitivity of the sprinkler is evaluated by subjecting the sprinkler to an air flow of a temperature sufficient to activate the thermal trigger of the sprinkler For Early-Suppression Fast-Response (ESFR) Sprinklers under the UL test standard, the thermal sensitivity testing requires the sprinkler to be evaluated relative to the air flow in a “most favorable position with respect to achieving a minimum operation time” and a “least favorable position with respect to achieving a maximum operating time.” For some sprinklers, the “most favorable position” can be an orientation where the air flow impacts a sprinkler such that the frame arms do not block the flow of air to the thermal trigger so as to provide the greatest heat transfer to the trigger, and the “least favorable position” can be an orientation where one of the frame arms is interposed between the air flow and the thermal trigger so as to limit the delivery of heat to the thermal trigger. For some other types of sprinklers not requiring “fast response” actuation, the industry approved testing may only require the “most favorable position testing.”
In addition to being thermally responsive, the thermal trigger must be sufficiently strong in the unactuated state of the sprinkler, to support the fluid seal element and the force generated by the fluid pressure delivered to the sprinkler, which may be as much as for example, 175 psi. Because the sprinkler frame supports the thermal trigger, loads are transferred to the sprinkler frame. Accordingly, sprinklers are typically designed to meet strength testing of the frame structure that extends between the fluid outlet of the sprinkler to the fluid deflecting structure mounted on the frame structure.
One standard for testing the strength of a sprinkler frame is the “Strength of Frame Test” described in Underwriters Laboratories' (“UL”), Section 26 of the UL Standard for Early-Suppression Fast-Response Sprinklers UL 1767 (2010) which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414. As described in the UL standard, a sprinkler frame must not show permanent distortion when certain loads are applied to the frame. As can be appreciated, a short frame structure can provide greater strength as compared to a similarly-designed long frame structure because there is less moment associated with a short frame. A similar test is set forth in another standard: FM Global's (“FM”) “Assembly Load/Frame Strength” test described in section 4.2 of the FM Approval Standard Class No. 2008 (2006) which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414.
A preferred sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler frame arrangement in combination with a thermal trigger such that the sprinkler maintains its expected or rated thermal sensitivity substantially consistently radially about the sprinkler axis. The preferred sprinkler frame includes frame arms configured to deflect or redirect heat flow impacting the lateral surfaces of the frame arms toward the sprinkler axis and in particular toward a directly loaded thermal trigger, such as for example, a glass bulb type thermal trigger disposed on the sprinkler axis.
One preferred embodiment provides a sprinkler assembly that includes a sprinkler frame having a body having an inlet, an outlet and an internal passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis. The frame includes two frame arms which extend distally from the body. Each frame arm has a portion defining a cross-sectional area with a lateral surface and a medial surface relative to the sprinkler axis, the medial surfaces being equally spaced about a first plane bisecting the body with the sprinkler axis disposed in the first plane. A seal assembly is disposed in the outlet to occlude the sprinkler outlet; and a fluid deflecting structure is supported by the frame arms. A thermally responsive glass-bulb type trigger is disposed between the frame arms and axially aligned along the sprinkler axis between the seal assembly and the frame to support the seal assembly in the outlet. The cross-sectional areas of the preferred frame arms are asymmetrical with respect to one another about the first plane and each cross-sectional area is asymmetric about a second plane perpendicular to the first plane with the sprinkler axis disposed in the second plane. Moreover, the lateral surface of each arm includes an undulation to provide the sprinkler assembly with substantially equivalent or consistent thermal sensitivity in all radial directions about the sprinkler axis.
The preferred sprinkler frame arrangements provide the sprinkler assembly with substantially equivalent or consistent thermal sensitivity in all radial directions about the sprinkler axis. More specifically, the preferred sprinkler with a glass-bulb type axially disposed and directly loaded thermal trigger, when subject to thermal sensitivity testing, thermally responds as expected in each of its most and least favorable positions. Thus, the preferred sprinkler assembly responds or actuates appropriately independent of the location of the heat source or other activation event relative to the sprinkler axis. More particularly, the preferred sprinkler assembly responds with a thermal sensitivity ranging between 19-36 m1/2-sec1/2when tested in its least favorable position. In one preferred embodiment, a sprinkler includes a body having an inlet, an outlet and an internal passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis and a nominal K-factor of at least 14.0 GPM/(PSI)1/2. A seal assembly is disposed in the outlet to occlude the sprinkler outlet. A fluid deflecting member is preferably spaced from the outlet at a first axial distance and spaced from the inlet at a second axial distance. A fast-response thermally responsive trigger is disposed axially aligned along the sprinkler axis between the seal assembly and the deflecting member. The trigger has a nominal thermal sensitivity and a nominal release temperature. Preferably, the nominal thermal sensitivity is defined by an RTI of less than 100 m1/2sec1/2; more preferably 80 m1/2sec1/2 or less; even more preferably 50 m1/2sec1/2 or less; yet more preferably 40 or less m1/2sec1/2; or preferably ranging between 19 to 36 m1/2sec1/2. Two frame arms extend distally from the body and are disposed about the thermally responsive trigger to support the fluid deflecting member from the outlet and the inlet. Each frame arm preferably defines a surface profile such that the thermal trigger responds to an activation event with the nominal thermal sensitivity and with the nominal release temperature independent of the location of the activation event about the sprinkler axis.
The preferred sprinkler frame arrangement provides for a compact sprinkler assembly satisfying all standard strength requirements, which may be used in several sprinkler applications and more preferably for use in an Early Suppression Fast Response Sprinkler Moreover, the compact sprinkler assembly facilitates the use of commercially available glass bulbs and minimize the amount of material in the fabrication of the sprinkler, while conforming with applicable standards for frame arm strength and thermal sensitivity in each of the least and most favorable testing positions. Accordingly, one particular preferred embodiment of the sprinkler assembly provides for an ESFR pendent type sprinkler having a nominal K-factor of 14.0 GPM/(PSI)1/2. The preferred sprinkler assembly in which its thermal trigger is a fast-response trigger, the sprinkler having a substantially consistent RTI about its axis ranging between 19-36 m1/2-sec1/2. The preferred sprinkler frame provides a compact sprinkler assembly with a distal outlet-to-deflector distance of 1.25 inches which provides a more compact and more specifically an axially shorter assembly as compared to known existing fast response and more particular, known ESFR sprinklers.
In yet another preferred embodiment, a sprinkler include a frame having a body having an inlet, an outlet and an internal passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis and a nominal K-factor of at least 14.0 GPM/(PSI)½. Two frame arms extending distally about the body and support the fluid deflecting structure 16 to define a preferred outlet to deflector axial distance ranging from about 1 inch to about 2.5 inches and an inlet to deflector axial distance ranging from about 1 inch to about 3.5 inches. A preferably fast response thermally responsive trigger is disposed in the frame window defined by the frame arms to support a seal assembly in the outlet, in which the frame window has an axial window height preferably ranging between about 1 inch and about 2 inch and a preferred window width of about 1 inch.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description and attachments given above and the detailed description and attachments given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.
A preferred sprinkler assembly provides for a sprinkler frame arrangement in combination with a directly-loaded axially disposed glass bulb-type trigger such that the glass bulb maintains its expected or rated thermal sensitivity substantially consistently radially about the sprinkler axis. More preferably, the preferred sprinkler, when subject to thermal sensitivity testing, thermally responds appropriately as expected or anticipated independent of the direction of the heat flow or location of an activation event relative to the sprinkler axis. Additionally, the preferred sprinkler frame arrangement provides for a compact sprinkler assembly, which facilitates the use of commercially available glass bulbs and minimizes the amount of material in the fabrication of the sprinkler, while conforming with standards for frame arm strength and thermal sensitivity in each of the least and most favorable testing positions.
Shown in
The sprinkler frame 5 includes one and more preferably two frame arms 28 that are radially positioned on opposing sides of the distal outlet end 12b and preferably formed as a unitary member with the body 12. The frame arms 28 preferably extend axially and distally toward the deflector 16 and preferably converge toward the sprinkler axis A-A to terminate at a terminal frame formation axially aligned along the sprinkler axis A-A and spaced from the sprinkler distal outlet 12b. The terminal frame formation is preferably a substantially conical/frustoconical formation or knuckle 32. The fluid deflecting structure 16 is preferably coupled to the body 12 at the knuckle 32 so as to depend or be supported from the frame arms 28. The two frame arms 28 have axial portions 28a extending from the distal end 12b of the body 12 distally and parallel to the sprinkler axis A-A. The frame arms 28 further include converging portions 28b extending from the axial portions 28a at a converging angle toward each other and the axis A-A to terminate at the knuckle 32 and define a sprinkler window W.
Each of the frame arms 28 and its vertical and converging portions 28a, 28b further define surface profiles to direct/deflect fluid and/or heat about the frame arms 28 and toward the sprinkler axis A-A and any sprinkler elements disposed along the axis A-A. More specifically, each frame arm includes a lateral surface 46 which is the radially outer most portion of the frame arm relative to the sprinkler axis A-A. The frame preferably defines a maximum lateral to lateral surface distance across the window frame W of about 1-¾ inches and more preferably about 1.78 inches. As used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. “About” can be understood as within 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein are modified by the term about. The frame arms 28 further include a medial surface 52 which is the radially inner most portion of the frame arm relative to the sprinkler axis. As noted above, the frame arms 28 are preferably diametrically opposed about the distal outlet 12b of the body 12. Accordingly, the medial surface 52 of the pair of arms 28, preferably along the vertical portion 28a, are equidistantly disposed about a plane P1 that bisects the sprinkler body 12 with the sprinkler axis A-A disposed in the plane P1 such that the medial surfaces 52 define substantially equal distances R1 and R2 to the first plane P1. The medial surfaces 52 each defining a preferred distance to the first plane P1 of about ½ inch. Moreover in one particular embodiment, the vertical frame arm portions 28a, as seen in
Connecting the lateral and medial surfaces 46, 52 to one another are spaced apart and opposed first surface 48 and second surface 50 which define the thickness of the frame arm and more particularly define the cross-sectional area of each of the frame arms. In cross-section, each of the frame arms 28 and more particularly its vertical portions 28a preferably taper in the lateral to the medial direction. Accordingly for each of the pair of arms 28, in one preferred aspect, the first and second surfaces 48, 50 converge toward one another to define first and second conversion points C1, C2 oppositely disposed about the second plane P2. With reference to
In one particular aspect of the frame arms 28 and their preferred perpendicular portions 28a, as shown in
Referring to
The lateral surface 46 may include other surface profiles contiguous with the undulating surface 47. For example, as seen in
Generally, the preferred embodiments provide that the sprinkler frame includes frame arms having surfaces along its portions which define cross-sectional areas, perpendicularly oriented with respect to the sprinkler axis A-A and asymmetrical about the first and second planes. More particularly, the various features of the frame arm locations and geometries define cross-sectional areas preferably located along the vertical portions 28a of the arms such that the cross-sectional areas of the arms are asymmetrical with respect to one another about the first plane P1; and more preferably, the cross-sectional areas themselves are asymmetrical about the second plane P2. Additionally or in the alternative, the first and second surfaces 48, 50 that are contiguous with the lateral and medial surfaces 46, 52 may define non-linear surface profiles to facilitate fluid and/or heat flow over the sprinkler frame 5. For example, in another embodiment of the sprinkler assembly 10′ and frame 5′, illustrated in
It is believed that the previously described frame arm arrangements deflects or redirects heat flow impacting the lateral surfaces of the sprinkler frame toward the sprinkler axis and in particular toward a directly loaded thermal trigger, such as for example, a glass bulb type thermal trigger disposed on the sprinkler axis. The preferred sprinkler frame arrangements provide the sprinkler assembly with substantially equivalent or consistent thermal sensitivity in all radial directions about the sprinkler axis. Thus, the preferred sprinkler thermally actuates consistently or in accordance with its expected thermal sensitivity when impacted by a heat flow in a direction normal to the first plane P1 and more particularly impacting the lateral surface 46 of the frame arms 28. Accordingly, for a sprinkler assembly incorporating the preferred sprinkler frame and an axially disposed, directly loaded fast response glass bulb thermal trigger, a fast response sprinkler arrangement can be provided. For example, the preferred sprinkler assembly 10 may be embodied in an ESFR sprinkler arrangement, in which the sprinkler can be successfully thermally tested in its “least favorable position” and subject to the other applicable test requirements under UL 1767 and/or FM Approval Standard 2008 with the expected response of its fast response thermal sensitivity. The preferred assembly provides a simplified sprinkler assembly over known sprinkler arrangements that use off-axis thermal triggers or multiple-component thermally sensitive trigger assemblies as previously described.
The preferred sprinkler frame 5 and its frame arms 28 define an axial length between the sealing assembly 23 and the knuckle 32 for use with a known glass bulb type thermal trigger 14, such as for example, the THERMO BULB® F 3 F “Super Fast” fast response glass bulb from JOB®, which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414. Alternatively, the sprinkler frame 5 and frame arms 28 can be configured and spaced to accommodate other axially disposed and directly loaded glass bulb type thermal triggers having different axial lengths or diameters provided that the frame arms 28 facilitates substantially consistent thermal sensitivity about the sprinkler axis for the given trigger as described herein.
As previously described and with reference to
Referring to
Coupling the sprinkler 10 to a fluid supply line and delivering a fluid under pressure to the inlet 12a directly loads the thermal trigger 14. More specifically, the seal assembly 23 seals the distal end 12b of the sprinkler 10 against fluid pressure delivered to the sprinkler inlet 12a. The load from the fluid pressure in the unactuated state of the sprinkler is distributed over the thermal trigger 14 and the frame arms 28. The fluid load is a function of the delivered pressure and the geometry of the passageway 18 and the distal outlet 12b.
The actuated state of the sprinkler also transfers a load to the frame arms. Water discharged from the sprinkler body 12 impacts the distally spaced deflector 16 which places a load on the sprinkler frame arms 28. The flow rate from the sprinkler body 12 is a function of the geometry of the passageway 18 and more particularly the orifice diameter O, which can be characterized by a discharge coefficient or K-factor. The discharge coefficient or K-factor of a sprinkler allows for an approximation of flow rate to be expected from an outlet of a sprinkler based on the square root of the pressure of fluid fed into the inlet of the sprinkler As used herein, the K-factor is defined as a constant representing the sprinkler discharge coefficient, that is quantified by the flow of fluid in gallons per minute (GPM) from the sprinkler outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the sprinkler passageway in pounds per square inch (PSI). The K-factor is expressed as GPM/(PSI)1/2. Industry accepted standards, such as for example, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard entitled, “NFPA 13: Standards for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems” (2010 ed.) (“NFPA 13”) provides for a rated or nominal K-factor or rated discharge coefficient of a sprinkler as a mean value over a K-factor range (NFPA 13, Chapters 3 and 12 are attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/704,414). For example for a K-factor 14 or greater, NFPA 13 provides the following nominal K-factors (with the K-factor range shown in parenthesis): (i) 14.0 (13.5-14.5) GPM/(PSI)1/2; (ii) 16.8 (16.0-17.6) GPM/(PSI)1/2; (iii) 19.6 (18.6-20.6) GPM/(PSI)1/2; (iv) 22.4 (21.3-23.5) GPM/(PSI)1/2; (v) 25.2 (23.9-26.5) GPM/(PSI)1/2; and (vi) 28.0 (26.6-29.4) GPM/(PSI)1/2; or a nominal K-factor of 33.3 GPM/(PSI)1/2 which ranges from about (31.8-34.8 GPM/(PSI)1/2).
The flow is directly proportional to the K-factor of the sprinkler Therefore the fluid flow impact on the deflector 16 and the load on the frame arms 28 increases with increasing K-factor. Preferably for any given K-factor, the frame 5 and its arms 28, are configured to meet the requirements of industry accepted strength test standards, such as for example, the test described in Section 26 of the UL Standard for Early-Suppression Fast-Response Sprinklers UL 1767 (2010) which is attached to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414. As described in the exemplary UL 1767 test, a frame arm must not show permanent distortion in excess of 0.2 percent when subjected to a test loading as described therein.
For the preferred embodiment shown in
Moreover referring to
A known glass-bulb type thermal trigger includes an elongate hollow cylindrical or barrel shaped tubular enclosure. Enclosed within the bulb is an expansible breaking fluid, which expands and breaks the bulb at a predetermined release temperature. Glass-bulb type triggers are constructed to provide for the requisite strength to withstand the anticipated axial loading of the sprinkler assembly. Moreover, glass-bulb type trigger constructions satisfy strength requirements while providing desired thermal sensitivity and/or reduced response times. The “RTI” is a measure of thermal sensitivity and is related to the thermal inertia of a heat responsive element of a sprinkler Under NFPA 13, Section 3.6.1, a “fast response” sprinkler is defined as a sprinkler having a thermal element with an RTI of 50 m1/2sec1/2 or less; and a “standard response” sprinkler is defined as a sprinkler having a thermal element with an RTI of 80 m1/2sec1/2 or more. The bulb length, diameter, wall thickness and bulb geometry can define a ratio of the heat-absorbing surface of the bulb to the volume within the bulb to be heated to provide the desired responsiveness and strength of glass-bulb type trigger. For example, with reference to the bulb of ATTACHMENT 3 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414, a glass-bulb construction provides for enlarged ends of the bulb to define a “bone shape design” which strengthens the bulb for axial loading and reduces the diameter of the bulb to define the ratio of the heat-absorbing ratio of the bulb to the volume of expansible fluid within the bulb to be heated to provide for the desired thermal responsiveness.
In addition to the construction of the glass enclosure of the bulb type trigger, the desired sensitivity may be realized by the appropriate physical properties of the expansible liquid including, for example, thermal conductivity and viscosity. Moreover, the response time of a thermal trigger may be reduced by lowering the heat capacity of the expansible liquid while providing for high heat absorption. For fast response triggers, the expansible liquid preferably defines a high ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion to compressibility. Given the parameters affecting the strength and responsiveness of the trigger, a glass-bulb type thermal trigger may be configured to have adequate strength and acceptable responsiveness for use as an axially aligned directly loaded glass-bulb type trigger with the preferred sprinkler frame 5 defining a nominal K-factor of greater than 14.0 GPM/(PSI)1/2 to provide for a fast response suppression sprinkler, for example, an ESFR sprinkler having a nominal K-factor of 16.8 or 25.2 GPM/(PSI)1/2.
The preferred sprinkler assembly 10 of
Although the axially aligned directly loaded glass-bulb type thermal trigger provides a more simplified sprinkler assembly arrangement, the thermal trigger may include additional heat conducting structures to provide for the desired responsiveness, such as for example, external heat conducting fins. Moreover, although the preferred arrangement includes a glass bulb trigger axially disposed along the sprinkler axis, it should be understood the sprinkler frame 5 may be used with an off-axis glass-bulb type trigger or other types of triggers, such as for example a lever and strut solder assembly, disposed on axis or off axis.
An automatic sprinkler may be configured for addressing a fire in a particular mode such as for example, control mode or suppression mode. A “listed” sprinkler for fire suppression is a sprinkler that has been tested, verified and published in a list by an industry accepted organization, such as for example, FM and UL as a sprinkler being suitable for the specified purpose of fire suppression. Fire suppression is defined by NFPA 13, Section 3.3.10 as “[s]harply reducing the heat release rate of a fire and preventing its regrowth by means of direct and sufficient application of water through the fire plume to the burning fuel surface.” One form of suppression mode is the previously identified Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) which is defined under NFPA 13, Section 3.6.4.2 as a sprinkler having a thermal sensitivity, i.e., response time index (“RTI”) of 50 meter 1/2second1/2 (“m1/2sec1/2”) or less and “listed” for its capability to provide fire suppression of specific high-challenge fire challenges. As previously noted, the thermal responsiveness and sensitivity of the glass-type trigger can be defined by the construction of the glass bulb enclosure and the physical properties of the expansible liquid contained therein.
One particular preferred embodiment of the sprinkler assembly 10 provides for a nominal K-14 ESFR pendent type sprinkler Due to its sprinkler frame 5 and frame arm 28 arrangement to provide the substantially uniform or consistent thermal sensitivity about the sprinkler axis A-A, the preferred sprinkler assembly 10 can satisfy the thermal sensitivity testing required of ESFR sprinklers in each of the “most favorable position” and the “least favorable position” under, for example, UL 1767 and/or FM Approval Standard Class No. 2008. Accordingly, the preferred sprinkler assembly 10 in which the thermal trigger 14 is a fast response trigger, i.e., the sprinkler actuates as required when a sufficient heat flow is directed toward and impacts the lateral surface of the sprinkler for redirection/deflection toward the trigger, i.e., actuates with an RTI ranging between 19-36 m1/2-sec1/2. However, as previously noted, the applicability of the preferred sprinkler frame 5 is not limited to ESFR nor fast response applications. Rather, the sprinkler may be used in a standard, control mode, specific application sprinkler applications or other standard response applications. Moreover, the preferred sprinkler assemblies are well suited for fast response applications, the sprinkler frame may be alternatively combined with a glass-bulb type trigger having an RTI of 100 m1/2sec1/2 or greater so as to provide for standard response.
Again, the preferred sprinkler frame provides a compact sprinkler assembly. More specifically, when the sprinkler frame 5 is configured as an ESFR sprinkler with a nominal K-factor of 14.0 GPM/(PSI)½, with the preferred distal outlet-to-deflector distance Y1 and proximal inlet-to-deflector distance Y2 previously described, it is believed that the preferred assembly provides a more compact and more specifically an axially shorter assembly as compared to known existing fast response and more particular, known ESFR sprinklers. It is believed that other known nominal 14.0 GPM/(PSI)½ K-factor ESFR sprinklers have corresponding axial lengths pairs (Y1): (Y2) in inches of: (i) 1.8: 2.7; (ii) 1,9: 3.0; and (iii) 1.6 : 2,7. The compact nature of the preferred sprinkler frame 5 minimizes the material requirements for forming the frame. More preferably, as detailed above, the preferred embodiments provide for a sprinkler including a frame 5 having a body 12 having an inlet 12a, an outlet 12b and an internal passageway 18 extending between the inlet 12a and the outlet 12b to define a longitudinal sprinkler axis and a nominal K-factor of at least 14.0 GPM/(PSI)½, with two frame arms 28 extending distally about the body 12. The frame arms 28 support the fluid deflecting structure 16 to define a preferred outlet-to-deflector distance Y1 ranging from about 1 inch to about 2.5 inches and an inlet-to-deflector distance Y2 ranging from about 1 inch to about 3.5 inches. A preferably fast response thermally responsive trigger 14 disposed in the frame window defined by the frame arms to support a seal assembly in the outlet 12b, in which the frame window has an axial window height ranging between about 1 inch and about 2 inch and a window width of about 1 inch.
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by the language of the following Features of the Invention, and equivalents thereof.
This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 application of International Application No. PCT/US2013/060997 filed Sep. 20, 2013, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/704,414, filed Sep. 21, 2012, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2013/060997 | 9/20/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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| WO2014/047485 | 3/27/2014 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20150246252 A1 | Sep 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61704414 | Sep 2012 | US |
