Fire sprinkler valve actuator
First Claim
1. A thermally activated release device, the device comprising:
- a cylindrical channel having a first region of inner diameter D1 and a second region of inner diameter D2, wherein the D2 is less than the D1;
a plug of shape memory alloy within the channel, wherein the plug comprises a martensitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2 and a first length, and an austenitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is less than the D2 and a second length that is greater than the first length;
wherein the device is configured so that a temperature change causes the plug to change from the martensitic phase shape having the outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2 to the austenitic phase shape having the outer diameter that is less than the D2 so that the plug moves from the first region to the second region within the channel; and
a valve coupled to the plug, wherein the valve opens a fluid passageway when the plug moves from the first region to the second region within the channel.
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Abstract
Thermally activated devices, including thermally activated release devices. These devices may be used as part of any device or system in which thermal activation may be desired. In particular, described herein are thermally activated devices configured as sprinkler valves. The thermally activated devices typically include a channel and a plug element, where the plug element is a shape memory material, which may be a single-crystal shape memory alloy. The channel has two connected regions, where the first region has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of a plug element in a first configuration and the second region has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the plug element in the first configuration but greater than the diameter of the plug element in its second configuration.
255 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A thermally activated release device, the device comprising:
- a cylindrical channel having a first region of inner diameter D1 and a second region of inner diameter D2, wherein the D2 is less than the D1;
a plug of shape memory alloy within the channel, wherein the plug comprises a martensitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2 and a first length, and an austenitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is less than the D2 and a second length that is greater than the first length;
wherein the device is configured so that a temperature change causes the plug to change from the martensitic phase shape having the outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2 to the austenitic phase shape having the outer diameter that is less than the D2 so that the plug moves from the first region to the second region within the channel; and
a valve coupled to the plug, wherein the valve opens a fluid passageway when the plug moves from the first region to the second region within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a cylindrical channel having a first region of inner diameter D1 and a second region of inner diameter D2, wherein the D2 is less than the D1;
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13. A thermally actuated fire sprinkler valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
- a fluid passageway configured to connect to a source of pressurized fluid;
a valve coupled to the fluid passageway; and
a valve actuator assembly configured to actuate the valve to release fluid from the fluid passageway when a temperature exceeds a predetermined transition temperature, the valve actuator comprising;
a cylindrical channel having a first region of inner diameter D1 and a second region of inner diameter D2, wherein the D2 is less than the D1; and
a plug of shape memory alloy within the channel, wherein the plug comprises a martensitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2 and a first length, and an austenitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is less than the D2 and a second length that is greater than the first length;
wherein the device is configured so that when the temperature exceeds the transition temperature, the plug changes from the martensitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is between the D1 and the D2, to the austenitic phase shape having an outer diameter that is less than the D2, so that the plug moves from the first region to the second region within the channel and allows the valve to open. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a fluid passageway configured to connect to a source of pressurized fluid;
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23. A method of actuating a valve, the method comprising:
- changing the diameter of a plug located within a cylindrical channel from a martensitic phase shape having a first outer diameter and a first length to an austenitic phase shape having a second outer diameter and a second length that is greater than the first length, when a temperature of the plug exceeds a transition temperature;
moving the plug from a first region of the channel to a second region of the channel when the plug changes from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter, wherein the plug cannot access the second region of the channel until the outer diameter of the plug changes to the second outer diameter; and
wherein movement of the plug from the first region to the second region of the channel actuates the valve.
- changing the diameter of a plug located within a cylindrical channel from a martensitic phase shape having a first outer diameter and a first length to an austenitic phase shape having a second outer diameter and a second length that is greater than the first length, when a temperature of the plug exceeds a transition temperature;
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24. A method of actuating a fire sprinkler having a valve actuated by an actuator, the method comprising:
- blocking the flow of pressurized fluid from a fluid source using the valve of the fire sprinkler;
changing the diameter of a plug located within a cylindrical channel of the fire sprinkler from a martensitic phase shape having a first outer diameter to an austenitic phase shape having a second outer diameter when a temperature of the plug exceeds a transition temperature;
moving the plug from a first region of the channel to a second region of the channel when the plug changes from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter, wherein the plug cannot access the second region of the channel until the outer diameter of the plug changes to the second outer diameter, wherein movement of the plug from the first region to the second region of the channel actuates the valve; and
releasing pressurized fluid through the fire sprinkler. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- blocking the flow of pressurized fluid from a fluid source using the valve of the fire sprinkler;
Specification