Our invention generally relates to a sprinkler guard for protection of a fire protection sprinkler, and a method of manufacturing a sprinkler guard.
Suppression mode automatic sprinklers are thermo-sensitive devices that are designed to operate at a predetermined temperature by releasing a stream of fluid, typically water, and distributing the fluid in a specified pattern (i.e., a spray pattern) and in a density over a designated area to achieve fire suppression when installed on appropriate sprinkler piping. Early-suppression, fast response (ESFR) fire protection sprinklers are defined in section 3.6.4.3 of Standard 13 issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 13), of Quincy, Mass., United States, as “a type of fast-response sprinkler that has a thermal element with a response time index (“RTI”) of 50 (meters-seconds)1/2 or less and is listed for its capability to provide fire suppression of specific high-challenge fire hazards.” ESFR sprinklers are also defined in terms of a suitable required-delivered-density (RDD), which is the minimum amount of water that must be delivered to a combustible fuel package in order to achieve suppression of a type of a fire for a given commodity.
Fire protection sprinkler systems that include ESFR fire protection sprinklers are subject to testing requirements set forth in various standards, such as Standard 1767 issued by Underwriter's Laboratories (UL 1767), of Northbrook, Ill., United States, or Approval Standard 2008 issued by the Factory Mutual Global (FM Approval Standard 2008), of Johnston, R.I., United States. The testing requirements set forth in these standards are based on a number of parameters, including, for example, the sprinkler specifications (e.g., the K-factor, which is the flow rate of a fluid through an outlet of the sprinkler, in gallons per minute, divided by the square root of the pressure loss through the sprinkler, in pounds per square inch), the orientation of the sprinkler, the type of coverage area, the hazard classification, the type of storage, the type of commodity, the storage height, the ceiling height, the sprinkler temperature rating, and the design density, among others.
For example, Section 51 of UL 1767 provides the testing requirements for large scale fire tests for ESFR sprinklers having nominal K-factors of 22.4 gpm/(psi)1/2 (i.e., a K-22 ESFR sprinkler) or of 25.2 gpm/(psi)1/2 (i.e., a K-25 ESFR sprinkler). In particular, water discharged from a K-22 sprinkler or a K-25 sprinkler shall be capable of controlling a large-scale fire based on the requirements set forth in Table 51.1, reproduced below.
The fire test conditions for a nominal K-22 ESFR sprinkler for use with a maximum ceiling height of 45 ft (13.7 m), as set forth in UL 1767, are listed in Table 51.3, reproduced below.
The fire test conditions for a nominal K-25 ESFR sprinkler for use with a maximum ceiling height of 45 feet (13.7 m), as set forth in UL 1767, are listed in Table 51.5, reproduced below.
When fire protection sprinklers are located in an area in which the fire protection sprinklers are susceptible to physical damage, sprinkler guards may be mounted to the fire protection sprinklers. Sprinkler guards known in the art may be mounted to a fire protection sprinkler prior to installation of the fire protection sprinkler in an occupancy, or they may be mounted to the fire protection sprinkler after installation.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,418 (Ponte) teaches a sprinkler guard having U-shaped wire members arranged uniformly about a sprinkler axis, each joined at one end to a ring and at the other end to two opposed base plates. An opening allows the sprinkler guard to be mounted on a sprinkler head, and two tabs project inwardly toward a plane extending through the sprinkler axis between the base plates. In addition, two downwardly projecting portions of the base plates have outer surfaces that extend parallel to the two tabs. After the sprinkler guard is mounted to the sprinkler head, two wire clips that are pivotally supported on a wire member engage with a clip receiving portion on an adjacent wire member of an opposite section, so as to clamp two sections of the guard together.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0361100 (Hunsberger) discloses a sprinkler head protection arrangement having a base plate and a cover plate removably attached to the base plate using nuts and bolts, with each plate having a passageway for insertion of a sprinkler head. The cover plate has a protective cage formed of rigid links spaced apart circumferentially about a sprinkler head that is inserted into the passageway of the cover plate. At one end, the links are attached to the cover plate, and at the other end, the links are attached to a circumference of a top ring that is reinforced by a top bar. A second, lower ring may be provided between the cover plate and the top ring, with the links being attached about the circumference of the lower ring. Recesses or notches may be provided on the top and lower rings for placement of the links in manufacturing the cage. When the sprinkler head protection arrangement requires service, repair, or maintenance, the cover plate can be removed from the base plate, along with the protective cage.
ESFR sprinklers are very sensitive to spray pattern disruption. When known sprinkler guards, such as those disclosed in Ponte and Hunsberger, are mounted to ESFR sprinklers, the sprinkler guards obstruct the spray pattern of a fire protection fluid output by the ESFR sprinklers upon activation, and thus, the ESFR sprinklers may not meet the testing requirements, such as those set forth in UL 1767 and FM Approval Standard 2008, described above.
In view of these problems, our invention is directed to a sprinkler guard that can be mounted to a fire protection sprinkler before or after installation of the fire protection sprinkler in an occupancy. The sprinkler guard is structured so as to reduce or eliminate any obstruction to the spray pattern of the fire protection sprinkler. The sprinkler guards described herein are particularly adapted for use with ESFR fire protection sprinklers having K-factors of 22.4 gpm/(psi)1/2 and 25.2 gpm/(psi)1/2, such as the K22 and K25 ESFR fire protection sprinklers manufactured by The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., of Liberty, South Carolina, United States.
In a first embodiment, a sprinkler guard that is mountable to a fire protection sprinkler comprises two or more plates centered relative to a central axis of the sprinkler guard, the two or more plates defining a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis. The two or more plates include a first plate having a first projection that extends from the first plate in an upward direction that is parallel to the central axis, one or more second projections that extend from the first projection of the first plate in a first lateral direction that is orthogonal to the central axis, and a lower surface facing a downward direction that is opposite to the upward direction. The two or more plates also include a second plate having a first projection that extends from the second plate in the upward direction, one or more second projections that extend from the first projection of the second plate in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction, and a lower surface facing the downward direction.
The sprinkler guard of the first embodiment further comprises a plurality of legs including a first leg having an upper end attached to the lower surface of the first plate, the upper end extending in a first inward radial direction that is orthogonal to and toward the central axis, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the first inward radial direction. A second leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the first plate, the upper end extending in a second inward radial direction that is orthogonal to and toward the central axis, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the second inward radial direction. A third leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the second plate, the upper end extending in a third inward radial direction that is orthogonal to and toward the central axis, and that is opposite to the first inward radial direction, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the third inward radial direction. A fourth leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the second plate, the upper end extending in a fourth inward radial direction that is opposite to the second inward radial direction, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the fourth inward radial direction.
The sprinkler guard of the first embodiment further comprises circular ring is attached to each of the lower ends of the first to fourth legs, and has a center that coincides with the central axis. The first to fourth legs are spaced apart about the circumference of the circular ring. Two or more swing arms include a first swing arm having a looped end that at least partly encircles the middle portion of the first leg and configured to sit in the indent of the middle portion of the first leg, a free end that is opposite to the looped end, and a bent portion, provided between the looped end and the free end, and configured to snap fit into the indent of the middle portion of the third leg. In addition, the two or more swing arms include a second swing arm having a looped end that at least partly encircles the middle portion of the second leg and configured to sit in the indent of the middle portion of the second leg, a free end that is opposite to the looped end, and a bent portion, provided between the looped end and the free end, and configured to snap fit into the indent of the middle portion of the fourth leg. The sprinkler guard further comprises a cross bar that is attached to a lower surface of the circular ring, the cross bar extending along a diameter of the circular ring and along an axis that is orthogonal to the central axis and parallel to the first and second lateral directions.
In a second embodiment, a sprinkler guard that is mountable to a fire protection sprinkler comprises two or more plates centered relative to a central axis of the sprinkler guard, the two or more plates defining a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis. The two or more plates include a first plate having a first projection that extends from the first plate in an upward direction that is parallel to the central axis, one or more second projections that extend from the first projection of the first plate in a first lateral direction that is orthogonal to the central axis, and a lower surface facing a downward direction that is opposite to the upward direction. The two or more plates also include a second plate having a first projection that extends from the second plate in the upward direction, one or more second projections that extend from the first projection of the second plate in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction, and a lower surface facing the downward direction.
The sprinkler guard further comprises a plurality of legs including first leg having an upper end attached to the lower surface of the first plate, the upper end extending in a first inward radial direction that is orthogonal to and toward the central axis, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the first inward radial direction. A second leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the first plate, the upper end extending in a second inward radial direction that is orthogonal to and toward the central axis, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the second inward radial direction. A third leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the second plate, the upper end extending in a third inward radial direction that is opposite to the first inward radial direction, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the third inward radial direction. In addition, a fourth leg has an upper end attached to the lower surface of the second plate, the upper end extending in a fourth inward radial direction that is opposite to the second inward radial direction, a middle portion extending in the downward direction and having an indent, and a lower end extending in the fourth inward radial direction.
The sprinkler guard of the second embodiment further comprises a circular ring that is attached to each of the lower ends of the first to fourth legs, a center of the circular ring coinciding with the central axis, and the first to fourth legs being spaced apart about the circumference of the circular ring. Two or more swing arms include a first swing arm having a looped end that at least partly encircles the middle portion of the first leg and configured to sit in the indent of the middle portion of the first leg, a free end that is opposite to the looped end, and a bent portion, provided between the looped end and the free end, and configured to snap fit into the indent of the middle portion of the third leg. The two or more swing arms further include a second swing arm having a looped end that at least partly encircles the middle portion of the second leg and configured to sit in the indent of the middle portion of the second leg, a free end that is opposite to the looped end, and a bent portion, provided between the looped end and the free end, and configured to snap fit into the indent of the middle portion of the fourth leg. In addition, a cross bar is attached to the circular ring, and extends along a diameter of the circular ring and along an axis that is perpendicular to the central axis and perpendicular to the first and second lateral directions.
A sprinkler guard according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to
As shown in
A first projection 1030 of the first plate 1005 extends out of the plane A-A, in an upward direction in
First to third legs 1050, 1055, and 1060 are attached to attached to a lower surface 1065 of the first plate 1005, as shown in
A first swing arm 1075 is rotatably attached to the first leg 1050 by a looped portion 1075a that partly or entirely encircles the first leg 1050. The looped portion 1075a is received in the indented portion 1050d of the first leg 1050 when the sprinkler guard 1000 is in a latched state, as shown in
As shown in
The inner peripheral edge 2090 of the second plate 2010 has a recessed portion 2095 that can receive a portion of the hexagonal flange 205 of the fire protection sprinkler 200, as shown in
Fourth to sixth legs 2120, 2125, and 2130 are attached to a lower surface 2135 of the second plate 2010. The structure of the fourth to sixth legs 2120, 2125, and 2130 is the same as that of the first to third legs 1050, 1055, 1060, respectively, as described with reference to
Each of the fourth to sixth legs 2120, 2125, 2130 also has a lower end 2120b, 2125b, 2130b, respectively. The lower ends 2120b, 2125b, 2130b are attached to the circular ring 2070 (the circular ring 2070 shown in
At an end that is opposite to the looped ends 2075a, 2080a, each of the first swing arm 2075 and the second swing arm 2080 has a free end 2075c, 2080c, respectively. Between the looped portions 2075a, 2080a and the free ends 2075c, 2080c, each of the first swing arm 2075 and the second swing arm 2080 has a bent portion 2075b, 2080b, respectively. The bent portions 2075b, 2080b partly encircle the fourth leg 2120 and the sixth leg 2130, respectively. The free ends 2075c, 2080c allow for ease of latching and unlatching the swing arms 2075, 2085. When the sprinkler guard 2000 is in the latched state, as shown in
In the first embodiment, as shown in
When the sprinkler guard 3000 is in the unlatched state, as shown in
As shown in
The sprinkler guard 1000 of the first embodiment is adapted for use with an ESFR fire protection sprinkler having a K-factor of 25.2 gpm/(psi)1/2 (K-25 ESFR sprinkler), manufactured by The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. The K-25 ESFR sprinkler has the hexagonal flange 105, shown in
Further, the sprinkler guard 1000 according to our invention can be easily and securely mounted to the fire protection sprinkler 100 by virtue of the rotatable swing arms 1075, 1080. That is, during installation of the sprinkler guard 1000, after slipping the sprinkler guard 1000 onto the fire protection sprinkler 100, the swing arms 1075, 1080 can be moved so that the looped ends 1075a, 1080a are positioned in the indented portions 1050d, 1060d of the first leg 1050 and the third leg 1060, respectively, and the bent portions 1075b, 1080b can be snap fit onto the indented portions 1120d, 1130d of the fourth leg 1120 and the sixth leg 1130, respectively. By snap fitting the swings arms 1075, 1080 in this manner, the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010 are urged toward each other, and the above-noted portions of the sprinkler guard 1000 firmly grip the hexagonal flange 105 of the fire protection sprinkler 100.
As a method of manufacturing the sprinkler guard 1000 of the first embodiment, the first plate 1005 may be formed of a relatively thin metal plate having a thickness of approximately 0.0750 inch (1.91 mm). The second plate 2010 may also be formed of a relatively thin metal plate having a thickness of approximately 0.0750 inch (1.91 mm). Although the dimensions may vary, each of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010 may, for example, have an overall (i.e., total) length of 2.25 inches (57.15 mm), the length being measured along the axis F in
The recessed portions 1025, 1095 of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010, respectively, may have a depth of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) from the inner peripheral edges 1020, 1090 of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010, respectively. The first projections 1030, 1100 of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010, respectively, may be formed by bending the corresponding portion of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010 at an angle of approximately 90° from the plane A-A defined by the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010. Similarly, the second projections 1035, 1110 of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 101, respectively, may be formed by bending the corresponding portion of the first plate 1005 and the second plate 1010 at an angle of approximately 90° from the first projections 1030, 1100, so that the second projections 1035, 1110 extend in a direction that is parallel to the plane A-A.
The first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, 1130 may be formed by rolling and bending of the metal, and may have a circular cross-sectional diameter of 0.125 inch (3.18 mm). A total length of each of the first, third, fourth, and sixth legs 1050, 1060, 1120, 1130 may be, for example, 3.75 inches (95.25 mm), and a total length of the second and fifth legs 1055, 1125 may be, for example, 3.25 inches (82.55 mm). The upper ends 1050a, 1055a, 1060a, 1120a, 1125a, and 1030a of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1130, respectively, may be formed by bending an end of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1130 to form an angle of approximately 90°. The upper ends 1050a, 1060a, 1120a, and 1130a of the first, third, fourth, and sixth legs 1050, 1060, 1120, and 1130, respectively, measure approximately 1 inch (25.4 mm) in length, and the upper ends 1055a, 1125a of the second and fifth legs 1055, 1125, respectively, measure approximately 0.5 inch (12.7 mm). The lower ends 1050b, 1055b, 1060b, 1120b, 1125b, and 1030b of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1130, respectively, are also formed by bending another end of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1030 to form an angle of approximately 90°. Each of the lower ends 1050b, 1055b, 1060b, 1120b, 1125b, and 1030b of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1130 measures approximately 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) along the respective first to sixth inward radial direction.
The swing arms 1075, 1080 may also be formed by rolling and bending of the metal, and may have a circular cross-sectional diameter of 0.125 inch (3.18 mm). The looped ends 1075a, 1080a of the swing arms 1075, 1080, respectively, may be formed by bending one end of the swing arm 1075, 1080 to form a loop. The loop may be partly open, as shown in
The circular ring 1070 may also be formed by rolling and bending of the metal, and may have a circular cross-sectional diameter of 0.0625 inch (1.59 mm). The circular ring 1070 may be closed by welding. The diameter of the circular ring 1070 in the first embodiment is 3 inches (76.2 mm). In comparison to a diameter of the deflector 115, the diameter of the circular ring 1070 is approximately one and one half to two times larger, which ensures that the sprinkler guard 1000 is compact yet large enough so as not to interfere with the spray pattern of the fire protection sprinkler 100.
The lower ends 1050b, 1055b, 1060b, 1020b, 1025b, and 1030b of the first to sixth legs 1050, 1055, 1060, 1120, 1125, and 1130 may be attached to the circular ring 1070 at upper surfaces thereof, as shown in
Although the sprinkler guard 1000 may be manufactured using rolling, bending, and welding, as described above, other manufacturing processes may be used to form and to assemble the sprinkler guard 1000.
A sprinkler guard according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to
As shown in
The sprinkler guard 10000 of this embodiment is adapted for use with an ESFR fire protection sprinkler having a K-factor of approximately 22 gpm/(psi)1/2 (K-22 ESFR sprinkler), manufactured by The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. The K-22 ESFR sprinkler (not shown) differs from the K-25 ESFR sprinkler in both the K-factor, and in the orientation of the tabs of the deflector. That is, the tabs of the deflector of the K-22 ESFR sprinkler extend along the axis F, shown in
In each embodiment, the sprinkler guard may be formed of metal, such as steel. Of course, other materials may be used to form the sprinkler guard, as long as the material is sufficiently flexible so as to allow for mounting of the sprinkler guard to the fire protection sprinkler, and to allow for snap fitting of the swing arms into the indented portions of the legs of the sprinkler guard.
In addition, although the sprinkler guard described with respect to the first embodiment is suitable for use with a K-25 ESFR sprinkler manufactured by The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., the sprinkler guard may be used with other fire protection sprinklers. Similarly, although the sprinkler guard described with respect to the second embodiment is suitable for use with a K-22 ESFR sprinkler manufactured by The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., the sprinkler guard may be used with other fire protection sprinklers.
While the present invention has been described with respect to what are, at present, considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/436,415, filed Jun. 10, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,919,066, issued Feb. 16, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/682,330, filed on Jun. 8, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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100821215 | Apr 2008 | KR |
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2015059143 | Apr 2015 | WO |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210162446 A1 | Jun 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62682330 | Jun 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16436415 | Jun 2019 | US |
Child | 17172381 | US |