Fast response sprinkler head and fire extinguishing system

• US 6,585,054 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Viking Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Viking Corporation
• Inventors: Thomas, Peter W., Deegan, Thomas G., Dornbos, Delwin G., Bosma, Michael J., Franson, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US09/579,552
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 169/37, 169/38, 169/40, 169/41, 169/42, 169/56, 169/57, 169/58, 169/59, 169/60
• US Class Current: 169/37
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/02 Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/12 with fusible links
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/265 the liquid or other fluent material being symmetrically deflected about the axis of the nozzle

Abstract

A fast response, upright sprinkler head includes a body having a central orifice through which fire extinguishing fluid is expelled through an outlet end. A yoke, attached to the exterior surface of the sprinkler body, extends beyond the outlet end of the sprinkler body and is connected at its apex to a deflector. A fusible trigger assembly is coupled to the yoke and the outlet end of the sprinkler head. The deflector is formed with a planar member having a skirt depending therefrom and an annular ledge extending horizontally from the skirt. The skirt depends from the planar member in an outward direction at a pre-selected angle from the vertical, and is formed with a plurality of through-holes. The fast response upright sprinkler head is configured to have a K value of at least 13.5, while the fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature between approximately 155° F. and 175° F. to thereby provide a fast response sprinkler head capable of expelling a sufficient density of water during the early stages of fire development. The angle of the skirt, as well as the through holes formed therein, alter the trajectory of the water to thereby provide a hemispheric pattern of large water droplets capable of penetrating the fire plume and reaching the fire source in order to suppress or extinguish the same. In another aspect of the invention, the fast response upright sprinkler head is used in a fire extinguishing system and method wherein the upright sprinkler head is placed in proximity to a horizontal obstruction depending from, or otherwise supported, a preselected distance from the ceiling of an enclosure. The upright sprinkler system of the present invention develops an effective spray distribution pattern about the obstruction to thereby suppress a fire positioned directly below, or approximately below, the obstruction.

Claims

1. An upright early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinkler head for dispensing fire extinguishing fluid in the event of a fire, comprising:

a sprinkler body configured for attachment to a fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said sprinkler body having an orifice in fluid communication with the fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said orifice having an outlet, said sprinkler body having a top region, said sprinkler body having a K factor value of at least approximately 13.5; and

a sealing assembly positioned within said outlet of said orifice;

a fusible trigger assembly coupled to said sprinkler body and said sealing assembly, said fusible trigger assembly having a fusing temperature between approximately 155°

F. and 175°

F.; and

a deflector coupled to said sprinkler body and positioned a preselected distance above said top region of said sprinkler body wherein the extinguishing fluid flows upwardly from said orifice when said sealing assembly is released by said fusible trigger assembly from said outlet, said deflector including a plurality of through-holes wherein said deflector generates a spray distribution through said through-holes radially outward from said deflector whereby said defector is configured to generate a spray distribution pattern of fire extinguishing fluid over an area to be protected.

2. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 1, further comprising a yoke attached to said top region of said sprinkler body and extending beyond said top region of said sprinkler body, said yoke having an apex, and wherein said deflector is attached to said apex of said yoke.

3. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 1, wherein said deflector further comprises:

a downwardly depending skirt, said skirt including said plurality of through-holes.

4. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 3, wherein said deflector includes a generally planar member, wherein said skirt depends from said planar member.

5. A The upright sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein said fusible trigger assembly comprises:

a first plate having a bottom surface, a first channel and, at least one air aperture;

a second plate having a top surface, a second channel and at least one air aperture, wherein said first channel and said second channel extend in opposing directions and said at least one air aperture of said first plate and said at least one air aperture of said second plate are in registry when said fusible link is in the assembled condition; and

a layer of heat fusible material positioned on said bottom surface of said first plate and said top surface of said second plate.

6. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 4, wherein said skirt depending from said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical, said preselected angle being between approximately 12°

and 26°

.

7. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 4, wherein said skirt depending from said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical, said preselected angle being between approximately 15°

and 23°

.

8. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 4, wherein said skirt depending from said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical, said preselected angle being between approximately 18°

and 20°

.

9. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 4, wherein said planar member has an inner surface formed with a plurality of ribs.

10. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 9, wherein said planar member has a central region, and wherein said plurality of ribs extend from said central region of said planar member in a radial pattern.

11. The upright fire extinguishing sprinkler as recited in claim 2, wherein said fusible trigger assembly is coupled to said yoke.

12. The upright sprinkler head according to claim 1, in combination with a fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said fire extinguishing fluid supply line having a diameter less than or equal to approximately 3.0 inches, and said sprinkler head extending from said fire extinguishing fluid supply line and being in fluid communication with said fire extinguishing fluid supply line, and said deflector of said upright sprinkler head being positioned in a preselected vertical distance above the bottom of at least one obstruction and a preselected horizontal distance from the at least one obstruction.

13. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 11, wherein said fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature of approximately 165°

F.

14. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 1, wherein said K value is between approximately 13.5 and 14.5.

15. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 11, wherein said fusible trigger assembly further comprises a fusible link including a pair of plates joined by a fusible material, each plate of said pair of plates having at least one air hole formed therethrough, wherein said at least one air hole formed in a plate of said pair of plates is in registration with said at least one air hole formed in the other plate of said pair of plates.

16. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 11, wherein said fusible trigger assembly further comprises a fusible link including:

a first plate formed with a first channel, said first channel having a length greater than the radius of said first plate;

a second plate formed with a second channel, said second channel having a length greater than the radius of said second plate;

a layer of fusible material positioned between said first plate and said second plate; and

wherein said first channel is in registration with said second channel to thereby define a center hole.

17. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 16, wherein said fusible trigger assembly further comprises:

a first pin having a pair of protrusions, wherein said pair of protrusions each have an outer edge, wherein the distance between said outer edges of said pair of protrusions is greater than the width of said center hole; and

a second pin.

18. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 17, wherein said first pin has a pair of opposing ends, wherein each end of said pair of opposing ends is tapered.

19. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 17, wherein said second pin further comprises:

a top member having a first end and an opposing second end;

a middle member having a first end and an opposing second end, said first end of said middle member attached to said second end of said top member; and

a bottom member having a first end and an opposing second end, said second end of said middle member attached to said first end of said bottom member.

20. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 19, wherein said top member and said bottom member project in opposite directions.

21. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 19, wherein said top member extends from said middle member at a preselected angle above horizontal.

22. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 19, wherein said bottom member extends from said middle member at a preselected angle below horizontal.

23. The upright sprinkler head according to claim 12, wherein a lateral distance between said upright sprinkler head and the at least one obstruction given by the equation:

24. The upright sprinkler head according to claim 1, said trigger assembly comprising:

a first plate having a bottom surface, a first channel and, at least one air aperture;

a second plate having a top surface, a second channel and at least one air aperture, wherein said first channel and said second channel extend in opposing directions and said at least one air aperture of said first plate and said at least one air aperture of said second plate are in registry when said fusible link is in the assembled condition; and

a layer of heat fusible material positioned on said bottom surface of said first plate and said top surface of said second plate.

25. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said first plate is formed having at least one protrusion and said second plate is formed having at least one indentation, wherein said at least one protrusion is in registration with said at least one indentation when said fusible link is in the assembled condition.

26. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said first plate and said second plate are each formed having a lever aperture, wherein said lever aperture of said first plate is in registration with said second channel, said lever aperture of said second plate is in registration with said first channel, and wherein said first channel and said second channel define a center slot when said fusible link is in the assembled condition.

27. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said first plate and said second plate are generally circular in shape.

28. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 26, wherein said first channel has a length greater than the radius of said first plate.

29. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 26, wherein said second channel has a length greater than the radius of said second plate.

30. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said first plate and said second plate each have a perimeter formed with a rim.

31. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 30, wherein said rim of said first plate and said rim of said second plate extend in opposite directions when said fusible link is in the assembled condition.

32. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said first plate has a perimeter, wherein said first channel has an end and said at least one air aperture formed in said first plate further comprises at least one first air aperture and a second air aperture, wherein said second air aperture is positioned between said end of said first channel and said perimeter.

33. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 32, wherein said at least one air aperture has a major dimension and said second air aperture has a major dimension, wherein said major dimension of said second air aperture is greater than said major dimension of said at least one first air aperture.

34. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 33, wherein said at least one second air aperture and said second air aperture are substantially circular, and wherein the diameter of said second air aperture is approximately 0.125 inches and the diameter of said at least one first air aperture is approximately 0.094 inches.

35. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 24, wherein said second plate has a perimeter, wherein said second channel has an end and said at least one air aperture formed in said second plate further comprises at least one first air aperture and a second air aperture, wherein said second air aperture is positioned between said end of said second channel and said perimeter.

36. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 35, wherein said at least one air aperture has a major dimension and said second air aperture has a major dimension, wherein said major dimension of said second air aperture is greater than said major dimension of said at least one first air aperture.

37. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 36, wherein said at least one first air aperture and said second air aperture are substantially circular, and wherein the diameter of said second air aperture is approximately 0.125 inches and the diameter of said at least one first air aperture is approximately 0.094 inches.

38. The upright sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a fire extinguishing fluid supply line having a diameter of less than or equal to approximately 3.0 inches;

and

said upright sprinkler head extending from said fire extinguishing fluid supply line and include communication with said fire extinguishing supply line, said at least one upright sprinkler being spaced a later distance (D_L) to an obstruction wherein D_L is given by the equation

39. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 38, wherein said upright sprinkler has a K value of at least 13.5.

40. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 38, wherein said upright sprinkler has a fusible trigger assembly, wherein said fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature between approximately 155°

F. and 175°

F.

41. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 40, wherein said fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature of approximately 165°

F.

42. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 38, wherein said upright sprinkler further comprises:

a sprinkler body having an orifice and a top region;

a pair of legs extending from said top region of said sprinkler body; and

a deflector attached to said pair of legs, said deflector having;

a generally planar member, said planar member having a perimeter,

a skirt depending from said perimeter of said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical, and

an annular ledge extending generally horizontally from said skirt.

43. The upright sprinkler head system as recited in claim 42, wherein said preselected angle is between approximately 18°

and 20°

.

44. The fire sprinkler system as recited in claim 38, wherein said at least one upright sprinkler is positioned between the ceiling and the bottom of the obstruction.

45. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fire extinguishing fluid supply line positioned within an enclosure, said fire extinguishing fluid supply line having a diameter less than or equal to approximately 3.0 inches;

and

said upright sprinkler head extending from said fire extinguishing fluid supply line and being in fluid communication with said fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said deflector of said upright sprinkler head positioned a preselected vertical distance above a bottom of the at least one obstruction and a preselected horizontal distance from the at least one obstruction.

46. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately zero when said preselected horizontal distance is less than approximately one foot.

47. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 1.5 inches when said horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately one foot and less than approximately one foot, six inches.

48. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 3.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to between approximately one foot, six inches and less than approximately two feet.

49. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 5.5 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately two feet and less than approximately two feet, six inches.

50. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 8.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately two feet, six inches and less than approximately three feet.

51. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than, approximately 10 .0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately three feet and less than approximately three feet, six inches.

52. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 12.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to three feet, six inches and less than approximately four feet.

53. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 15.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately four feet and less than approximately four feet, six inches.

54. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 18.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately four feet, six inches and less than approximately and five feet.

55. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 22.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately five feet and less than approximately five feet, six inches.

56. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 26.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately five feet, six inches and less than approximately six feet.

57. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 45, wherein said preselected vertical distance is greater than approximately 31.0 inches when said preselected horizontal distance is greater than or equal to approximately six feet.

58. An upright sprinkler head for dispensing fire extinguishing fluid in the event of a fire, comprising:

a sprinkler body configured for attachment to a fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said sprinkler body having an orifice in fluid communication with the fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said orifice having an outlet, said sprinkler body having a top region, said sprinkler body having a K factor value of at least approximately 13.5; and

a sealing assembly positioned within said outlet of said orifice;

a fusible trigger assembly coupled to said sprinkler body and said sealing assembly, said fusible trigger assembly having a fusing temperature between approximately 155°

F. and 175°

F.;

a deflector coupled to said sprinkler body and positioned a preselected distance above said top region of said sprinkler body, said deflector comprises;

a generally planar member, said planar member having a perimeter;

a skirt depending from said perimeter of said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical; and

an annular ledge extending generally horizontally from said skirt, and said skirt being formed with a plurality of through-holes whereby said deflector is configured to generate a spray distribution pattern of fire extinguishing fluid over an area to be protected.

59. An early suppression fast response (ESFR) upright sprinkler head for dispensing fire extinguishing fluid in the event of a fire, comprising:

a sprinkler body configured for attachment to a fire extinguishing fluid supply line, said sprinkler body having an orifice in fluid communication with the fire extinguishing fluid supply line wherein the extinguishing fluid flows upwardly from said orifice when said sprinkler head is actuated in the event of a fire, said sprinkler body having a top region, said sprinkler body having a K value of at least approximately 13.5; and

a deflector coupled to said sprinkler body, said deflector having an impact surface and including a plurality of through-holes wherein said deflector generates a spray distribution through said through-holes radially outward from said deflector whereby said defector is configured to generate a spray distribution pattern of fire extinguishing fluid over an area to be protected, said deflector having;

a generally planar member, said planar member having a perimeter,

a skirt depending outwardly from said perimeter of said planar member at a preselected angle from the vertical, wherein said preselected angle is between approximately 12° and

26°

, and

an annular ledge extending generally horizontally from said skirt.

60. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 59, wherein said preselected angle is between approximately 15°

and 23°

.

61. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 59, wherein said preselected angle is between approximately 18°

and 20°

.

62. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 59, wherein said planar member has an inner surface formed with a plurality of ribs.

63. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 62, wherein said planar member has a central region, and wherein said plurality of ribs extend from said central region of said planar member in a radial pattern.

64. The upright sprinkler head as recited in claim 59, wherein said skirt is formed with said plurality of through-holes.