Early suppression fast response fire protection sprinkler

• US 7,735,570 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fischer, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US12/556,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 169/37, 169/16, 169/39, 239/498, 239/518, 239/524
• US Class Current: 169/37
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/02 Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing

Abstract

An early suppression fast response pendent-type fire protection sprinkler is suitable for use in accordance with one or more of NFPA 13, NFPA 231 and NFPA 231C to protect single row rack storage, double row rack storage and multiple row rack storage, the sprinkler having a K-factor of about 25 and flowing pressure of about 15 pounds per square inch. Preferably, the sprinkler has a body defining an orifice and an outlet for delivering a flow of fluid from a source, and a deflector mounted with a first surface opposed to flow of fluid from the outlet. The deflector defines at least one pair of generally opposed reentrant slots extending from the first surface through the deflector, the reentrant slots extending from slot openings at an outer peripheral edge of the deflector inwardly from the peripheral edge toward a deflector axis.

Claims

1. A pendent-type fire protection sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body defining an orifice and an outlet for delivering a flow of fluid from a source, and having a K-factor of any one of about 17, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 34;

a pair of opposed arms disposed on a plane, each of the arms having a first end extending from the body and a second end distal the body;

an apex joined to the second end of each of the arms, the apex having a first end and a second end, the second end being wider than the first end, the apex having an outer peripheral surface extending between the first and second end;

a plug that closes the outlet of the body;

a thermally responsive element that supports the plug; and

a deflector having a central deflector axis, the deflector being coupled to the apex so that the second end of each of the arms is disposed between the deflector and the outlet of the body with the apex being centrally disposed along the deflector axis and the second end of the apex adjacent the deflector, the deflector having a first surface opposed to the flow of fluid from the outlet to deflect the flow of fluid to address a fire in at least one of a single row rack storage, double row rack storage and multiple row rack storage having a maximum storage height ranging between about 25 feet to about 40 feet in a storage area having a maximum ceiling height of up to 45 feet, with no open containers and no solid shelves, the deflector defining at least two grouping of slots disposed about the deflector axis, each of the at least two grouping of slots having at least two slots, each of the slots in each of the at least two grouping of slots extending from the first surface through the deflector, and from slot openings at an outer peripheral edge of the deflector inwardly to a radially innermost portion of the slot so as to define a slot length extending along a slot centerline, the slot length of the slots in one grouping varying from the slot lengths of the slots in another grouping of the at least two grouping of slots, each slot of one grouping of the at least two groupings of slots having a first width generally transverse to the slot centerline of the slot in the one grouping, each slot of another grouping of the at least two groupings of slots having a second width transverse to the slot centerline of the slot in the other grouping and different than the first width, one grouping of the at least two grouping of slots having at least four slots disposed to one side of the plane, and another grouping of slots having a pair of opposed radial slots disposed in the plane and three radial slots disposed to one side of the plane, at least one pair of slots of one grouping of the at least two groupings of slots having the innermost portion no further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex, each slot of the other grouping of slots having the innermost portion further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein slots of one of the at least two groupings of slots extends non-radially.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the slot length of at least one pair of slots ranges from about 0.52 to about 0.62 inches.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein at least one grouping of the at least two groupings of slots include a pair of radially adjacent slots having an angular spacing therebetween ranging between 40°

to 50°

.

5. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a strut and a lever assembly engaged with the plug to support the plug in the outlet, the strut and lever assembly having a first end engaged with the plug and a second end supported by the apex, the strut and lever assembly including:

a strut member disposed along the sprinkler axis; and

a threaded fastener disposed along the sprinkler axis and engaged with the apex, the thermally responsive element engaged with the strut and lever assembly to automatically thermally release the plug from the outlet.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the grouping of slots having each slot with the innermost portion further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex includes the one pair of opposed radial slots disposed in the plane.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the at least two grouping of slots are disposed so that the fluid flow from the outlet is distributed in a pattern such that the sprinkler has a minimum design flowing pressure ranging from about 15 pounds per square inch to about 40 pounds per square inch.

8. The sprinkler of claim 7, wherein the maximum storage height is at least 30 feet.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler has a hydraulic design with a hose stream allowance of about two hundred fifty gallons per minute (250 gpm) for a minimum water supply duration of one hour (1 hr.).

10. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral edge defines a diameter of about 1.75 inches.

11. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first width ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.17 and the second width ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.20 inches.

12. A sprinkler for a fire protection system having a hydraulic design that includes a hose stream allowance of two hundred and fifty gallons per minute (250 gpm) available for a duration of at least one hour (1 hr.) from a water supply, the sprinkler including a minimum design flowing pressure of about twenty to fifty pounds per square inch (20 to 50 psi.) and providing fire protection for storage of at least thirty feet (30 ft.) in height, the sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet to define an axis to deliver a flow of fluid from the water supply and further defining a K-factor of any one of about 17, 19, 22, 25, 28, and 34;

an apex centrally disposed along the axis, the apex having a peripheral surface disposed about the axis; and

a deflector disposed adjacent the apex and opposed to the outlet so that the apex is between the outlet and the deflector such that fluid flowing from the outlet, for the minimum flowing pressure of about twenty to fifty pounds per square inch (20 to 50 psi.), impacts the deflector and is distributed in a spray pattern to address a high challenge fire in the storage area so that the system has the hose stream allowance of about two hundred-fifty gallons per minute (250 gpm) available for the duration of about one hour (1 hr.), the deflector including;

(a) a deflector axis aligned with the axis of the body;

(b) an outer peripheral edge; and

(c) a plurality of slots including pairs of opposed slots;

the plurality of slots defining a first group of slots and at least a second group of slots disposed about the deflector axis, at least one of the first and second groups of slots having at least two pairs of opposed slots, each of the slots in each of the first and second groups of slots extending through the deflector and further extending radially inward from a slot opening at the outer peripheral edge to an innermost portion so as to define a slot length along a slot centerline, the slot length of each slot in the first group defining a first-slot length range, the slot length of each slot in the second group defining a second-slot length range that is different than the first-slot length range, the slot length of the at least two pairs of opposed slots of one of the first and second groups being smaller than the slot lengths of the other pairs of opposed slots of the deflector, at least one pair of slots of one of the first and second group of slots having the innermost portion no further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex, each slot of the other of the first and second group of slots having the innermost portion further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex, the first and second group of slots being disposed so that the fluid flow is distributed in a pattern such that the sprinkler has the hydraulic design with the hose stream allowance of about two hundred fifty gallons per minute (250 gpm) for the minimum water supply duration of one hour (1 hr.).

13. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the at least two pairs of slots in at least one of the first and second groups of slot includes four pairs of slots.

14. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein each slot has a slot width generally transverse to the slot centerline, the slot width of each slot in the first group defining a first slot width range, the slot width of each slot in the second group defining a second slot width range that is different than the first slot width range.

15. The sprinkler of claim 12, further comprising a pair of arms diametrically opposed about the body so as to define a plane therebetween, the at least two pairs of opposed slots of the one of the first and second group of slots includes four slots disposed to one side of the plane, the other of the first and second group of slots having at least three slots disposed to one side of the plane.

16. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the first-slot length range is between about 0.52 inches to about 0.62 inches and the second-slot length range is between about 0.32 inches to about 0.42 inches.

17. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the first and second group of slots each include a pair of radially adjacent slots, the pair of radially adjacent slots having an angular space therebetween ranging between 40°

to 50°

.

18. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the pair of radially adjacent slots of the first group define a tine therebetween, the tine including at least one slot of the second group.

19. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the outer peripheral edge defines a diameter of about 1.75 inches.

20. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the slots of one group of the first and at least second group of slots consists of slots of the same slot lengths.

21. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the slots of one group of the first and at least second group of slots consists of slots of different slot lengths.

22. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the slot length of at least one pair of slots in the first group of slots is about 0.57 inches and the slot length of at least one pair of slots in the second group of slots is about 0.32 inches.

23. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein the first and second group of slots are reentrant slots.

24. The sprinkler of claim 12, further comprising:

a pair of arms extending from opposite sides of the body so as to define a plane bisecting the deflector, the first group of slots defining a group of “

a”

slots that includes a pair of opposed slots disposed in the plane;

the second group of slots having the at least four slots disposed to one side of the plane so as to define a group of “

b”

slots; and

a third group of slots having a pair of opposed slots angularly spaced at 45°

from the plane so as to define a group of “

c”

slots, the first, second and third groups of slots being arranged in a pattern about the deflector axis, the pattern being “

abcbabcba.”

25. A pendent fire protection sprinkler having a sprinkler axis, the sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler frame including;

a base having an orifice with an inlet and an outlet spaced along an orifice axis coaxial with the sprinkler axis, the orifice defining a K-factor being any one of about 19, 22, 25, 28 and 34;

an apex disposed along the sprinkler axis and spaced from the outlet, the apex having a first end and a second end, the second end being wider than the first end, the apex having an outer peripheral surface extending between the first and second ends;

a pair of arms extending from opposite sides of the base so as to define a plane, the arms extending axially in the plane to join at the apex, the sprinkler further comprising

a closure assembly to maintain the outlet of the sprinkler normally closed, the closure assembly including;

a plug disposed in the outlet of the base;

a strut and a lever assembly engaged with the plug to support the plug in the outlet, the strut and lever assembly having a first end engaged with the plug and a second end supported by the apex, the strut and lever assembly further includes;

a strut member disposed along the sprinkler axis; and

a threaded fastener engaged disposed along the sprinkler axis and engaged with the apex;

a thermally responsive element engaged with the strut and lever assembly to automatically thermally release the plug from the outlet; and

a deflector affixed to the apex such that the first and second ends of the apex are located between the outlet of the body and the deflector, the deflector having a central deflector axis coaxially aligned with the sprinkler axis, the deflector having a first surface facing towards the outlet of the body, a second surface facing away from the body outlet and an outer peripheral edge extending between the first and second surfaces to define a thickness of the deflector, the deflector including a central hole mounted about the apex such that the second end of the apex and a portion of the peripheral surface of the apex are axially adjacent the first surface of the deflector, the deflector further including;

a first group of slots, each slot of the first group of slots having a slot opening located at the peripheral edge and an innermost portion located between the peripheral edge of the deflector and the peripheral surface of the apex, each slot of the first group extending from the first surface to the second surface and extending non-radially along a slot centerline from the slot opening at the peripheral edge to the innermost portion of the slot to define a first-group slot length; and

a second group of slots, each slot of the second group of slots having a slot opening located at the peripheral edge and an innermost portion located inwardly between the peripheral edge of the deflector and the deflector axis, each slot of the second group extending from the first surface to the second surface and extending along a slot centerline from the peripheral edge to the innermost portion of the slot to define a second-group slot length different than the first-group slot length, the slot centerline of each slot in the at least second group of slots extending radially toward the deflector axis, one of the first and second groups of slots having at least four pairs of opposed slots, the slots of the first and second group being equally spaced about the deflector axis such that the slots of the second group are radially disposed between the slots of the first group,

each slot of the first and second group defining a slot width transverse to the slot centerline of the slot in a region of the peripheral edge, the slot widths of the first and second group of slots ranging from about 0.08 inches to about 0.20 inches with the slot widths of at least one of the first and second group of slots ranging from about 0.08 inches to about 0.17 inches,

the at least second group of slots having slots of a first type and slots of a second type, the slots of the first type having a second-group slot length different than the second-group slot length of the second type, the first type of slots including one pair of opposed slots disposed in the plane aligned with the pair of arms, and the second type of slots including two pairs of opposed slots angularly spaced from the one pair of opposed slots of the first type by an angle of about 45°

, the second-group slot lengths of the two pairs of opposed slots of the second type is greater than the second-group slot length of the one pair of opposed slots of the first type, wherein the second-group slot lengths of the two pairs of opposed slots of the second type range from about 0.52 inches to about 0.62 inches, each slot of one of the first and second type of slots having the innermost portion no further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex, each slot of the other of the first and second type of slots having the innermost portion further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex.

26. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the innermost portion of one of the first and second type of slots of the at least second group of slots underlies the apex.

27. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the slot centerlines of the slots of the second group of slots extends radially to intersect the deflector axis.

28. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the first and at least second group of slots are reentrant slots.

29. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the first group of slots have at least four slots disposed to one side of the plane, and the at least second group of slots have at least three slots disposed to the one side of the plane.

30. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the a slot of the first type of the second group and a slot of the second type of the second group have a portion radially adjacent to one another so as to define a tine therebetween, a slot of the first group being formed in the tine.

31. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the slot widths of the at least one of the first and second group of slots range from about 0.13 inches to about 0.17 inches.

32. The sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the first and at least second groups of slots are arranged about the deflector axis to deflect a flow of fluid from the outlet of the base and provide a spray pattern for addressing a fire in at least one of single-row rack, double-row rack, multiple-row rack, portable rack, palletized and solid-piled storage of encapsulated or non-encapsulated materials including any one of Class I, II, III, IV, cartoned unexpanded plastics heavy and medium weight storage such that the sprinkler has a hydraulic design including at least one of:

(i) a hose stream allowance of two hundred and fifty gallons per minute (250 gpm) with a minimum fluid supply duration to the inlet of the base of about 1 hour (1 hr.);

(ii) a hose stream allowance of five hundred gallons per minute (500 gpm) with a minimum fluid supply duration to the inlet of the base of about 2 hours (2 hr.);

(iii) a minimum flowing pressure ranging from about 20 psi. to about 50 psi, wherein when the storage has a height ranging from about 25 ft. to about 40 ft. beneath a ceiling height ranging between about 30 ft. to about 45 ft. so that the difference between the ceiling height and storage height is a minimum 5 ft.; and

(iv) a minimum flowing pressure ranging from about 15 psi. to about 40 psi, wherein when the storage has a height ranging from about 25 ft. to about 40 ft. beneath a ceiling height ranging between about 30 ft. to about 45 ft. so that the difference between the ceiling height and storage height is a minimum 5 ft.

33. A pendent-type fire protection sprinkler, comprising:

a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet to define an axis and define a K-factor being any one of about 19, 22, 25, 28 and 34;

a pair of frame arms disposed in a plane, the frame arms having a first end extending from the body and a second end distal of the body;

a plug that closes the outlet of the body;

a thermally responsive element engaged with a strut and a lever to support the plug in the outlet, the thermally responsive element including a fusible solder alloy;

an apex joined to the second end of each of the arms, the apex having a first end and a second end, the second end being wider than the first end, the apex having an outer peripheral surface extending between the first and second end; and

a deflector having a central deflector axis, the deflector being coupled to the apex so that the second end of each of the arms is disposed between the deflector and the outlet of the body with the apex being centrally disposed along the deflector axis such that the second end of the apex is adjacent the deflector, the deflector having an outer peripheral edge defining an outside diameter of about 1.75 inches, the deflector further having a first inside surface opposed to the outlet and a second outside surface opposite the first surface facing away from the outlet, the deflector defining a first group of slots having at least two pairs of generally opposing slots symmetrically located around the deflector axis, radially adjacent slots of the first group being angularly spaced from each of other in a range between about 40°

to 50°

, the deflector further defining a second group of slots having at least two pairs of generally opposing slots symmetrically positioned between adjacent slots of the first group, radially adjacent slots of the second group being angularly spaced from each of other in a range between about 40°

to 50°

, the first and second group of slots each having four slots disposed to one side of the plane, each of the slots in each of the first and second groups of slots extending from the first surface through the deflector to the second surface from slot openings at the outer peripheral edge extending radially inward to an innermost portion of the slot so as to define a slot length extending along a slot centerline, the slot length of at least one generally opposed pair of slots of the first group of slots ranging between about 0.52 inches to about 0.62 inches, the slot length of at least one generally opposed pair of slots of the second group of slots ranging between about between about 0.32 to about 0.42 inches, at least one pair of slots of the first group of slots having the innermost portion extending inwardly towards the deflector axis so as to underlie the apex, each slot of the second group of slots having the innermost portion further outward from the deflector axis than the peripheral surface of the apex.

34. The sprinkler of claim 33, wherein the first and second group of slots are reentrant slots.