WO1998028042A1

WO1998028042A1 - Sprinkler

Info

Publication number: WO1998028042A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000876
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Mouradjallian; Manook A. Ohanessian
Original assignee: Christopher Mouradjallian; Ohanessian Manook A
Priority date: 1996-12-24
Filing date: 1997-12-23
Publication date: 1998-07-02
Also published as: AUPO433396A0

Abstract

A sprinkler (20) including a body portion (23) and a coupling member (21) for mounting the sprinkler in a pipe. The coupling member (21) includes a collar (34) with windows (39) for permitting fluid flow therethrough, from the pipe into a bore (33) of the body portion. The body portion includes a shank (24) which is arranged for telescopic movement from an extended condition to a retracted condition within the collar, so as to selectively close off fluid flow through the sprinkler.

Description

SPRINKLER

The present invention relates to a sprinkler and, more particularly, to a fire detection sprinkler and sprinkler system.

A known form of fire detection sprinkler is shown in Figure 1. The sprinkler 1 comprises a body portion 2 including a shank 3 coupled to a baffle structure 4 via support arms 5. The shank 3 is hollow so as to define a bore 6 and includes a threaded portion 7 for screw threaded engagement with a pipe 8, to allow for fluid communication between the pipe 8 and bore 6. A plug 9 is removably seated in opening 10 of the bore 6 to prevent fluid flow through the bore 6. The plug 9 is maintained in opening 10 by a heat sensitive element 1 1 which is itself positioned between the plug 9 and the baffle structure 4 by a locating screw 12 extending through the baffle structure 4.

The element 11 is commonly in the form of a frangible capsule 13 containing heat sensitive material, which causes the capsule to break when the material is heated to a predetermined temperature.

When the capsule is broken, by being subjected to heat from a fire, support to the plug 9 is removed and the plug 9 either falls out of the opening 10 or is ejected by fluid pressure from the pipe 8. Fluid then flows through the bore 6, in a direction indicated by arrow 14, to strike the baffle structure 4 and be deflected in the manner indicated by arrows 15.

The sprinkler is deactivated by turning off fluid supply, generally water, to the pipe 8. This is usually done by an authorised person such as from a fire department. Such an authorised person may, however, take a substantial period of time to arrive at the site of the fire and considerable water damage may result.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sprinkler including a body portion defining a bore arranged for fluid communication with a pipe and adapted to be closed by a plug, the plug being seated in an opening of the bore and removable upon detection of a fire, wherein the sprinkler includes a coupling member for attachment to the pipe, the coupling member defining a passage for flow of fluid from the pipe into the bore and wherein the body portion is moveably coupled to the coupling member to close the passage.

Preferably, the body portion includes a shank and the coupling member is in the form of a collar with a closed end, arranged to telescopically receive the shank therewithin, the collar having a window defining the passage, which is open when the shank is extended relative to the coupling member and closed by the shank when the shank is retracted into the coupling.

Preferably, the shank and collar are interconnected by a boss and slot arrangement to inhibit separation of the body portion from the coupling member, whilst allowing limited relative movement therebetween.

Preferably, the boss is provided on the shank and the collar includes said slot and wherein the slot extends in a direction parallel to a direction in which the shank is moved, for retraction and extension relative to the collar.

Preferably, the sprinkler includes a plug and a strut between the plug and the coupling member to prevent relative movement between the shank and the coupling member when the plug is seated in the bore.

In another aspect, there is provided a sprinkler system including a plurality of sprinklers formed in accordance with the above described sprinkler.

The invention is more fully described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a known form of sprinkler,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sprinkler in accordance with the present invention,

5 Figure 3 is a partial cross section of the sprinkler, along the line 3-3, shown in Figure

2,

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3, illustrating the sprinkler in a retracted condition, and 10

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a coupling member of the sprinkler shown in Figure 2

The sprinkler 20 shown in Figure 2 includes a coupling member 21, a baffle structure 15 22 and a body portion 23 having a shank 24 interconnected with the baffle structure 22 via support arms 25 The baffle structure 22 is formed of a slotted disc 26 with a central boss 27 housing a locating screw 28 The locating screw 28 supports a heat sensitive member 29, in the form of a frangible capsule 30, between the baffle structure and a plug 31 (shown in full detail in Figure 3) which serves to close an opening 32 of a bore 33 formed through the 20 shank 24

The coupling member 21 is formed of a collar 34 with a closed end 35 and has a threaded portion 36 formed on an exterior surface thereof for engagement with a correspondingly threaded opening in a pipe (not shown). A nut type structure 37 is provided 25 around the base 38 of the collar 34 to assist in screwing the sprinkler 20 into the pipe A plurality of windows 39 are circumferentially disposed in the collar to provide passage for fluid to pass from the pipe into the interior 40 of the coupling member

The collar 34 is arranged to receive the shank 24 therewithin for telescopic movement 30 from an extended position shown in Figure 3 to a retracted position shown in Figure 4 When the shank 24 is in the retracted position shown in Figure 4, the passage defined by the windows 39 is closed by the shank 24 thereby preventing fluid flow through the sprinkler. Circumferential seals 41 are provided adjacent the base of the collar 34 to prevent fluid leakage between the shank 24 and the coupling member 21. An additional seal 42 is provided adjacent the closed end 35 of the collar 34 to inhibit fluid flow from the windows 39 into the bore 33 when the shank 24 is in the retracted position.

In operation, the sprinkler 20 would be arranged with the shank 24 in the extended position, as shown in Figure 3. Detection of heat from a fire would cause the capsule 30 to burst, thereby releasing the plug 31. Fluid would then flow through the sprinkler in a manner identical to that described with reference to Figure 1. Once the fire had been extinguished, the body portion 23 could be pushed up into the retracted position to close off the windows 39 and stop fluid flow through the sprinkler, thereby avoiding potential water damage which may otherwise be caused if the fluid was allowed to flow from the sprinkler unchecked. The arrangement is also such that, in the event that a fire is reignited, the body portion 23 could be re-extended from the coupling member 21 to continue the fluid flow.

As a safety measure, a strut element 43 (shown in phantom lines in Figure 3) may be provided between the coupling member 21 and the plug 31 to ensure that relative movement of the body portion 23 and coupling member 21 occurs only after the plug has been displaced by way of the capsule breaking.

Another safety feature is shown in Figure 5 wherein the coupling member 21 and shank 24 of the body portion 23 are provided with an interconnecting boss 44 and slot 45 arrangement to prevent the shank 24 from sliding free of the coupling member 21.

A plurality of sprinklers formed in accordance with the above described sprinkler 20 may be connected to a suitably positioned water pipe or pipes to form an entire sprinkler system. Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS:

1. A sprinkler including a body portion defining a bore arranged for fluid communication with a pipe and adapted to be closed by a plug, the plug being seated in an opening of the bore and removable upon detection of a fire, wherein the sprinkler includes a coupling member for attachment to the pipe, the coupling member defining a passage for flow of fluid from the pipe into the bore and wherein the body portion is moveably coupled to the coupling member to close the passage.

2. A sprinkler as claimed in claim 1, wherein body portion includes a shank and the coupling member is in the form of a collar with a closed end, arranged to telescopically receive the shank therewithin, the collar having a window defining the passage, which is open when the shank is extended relative to the coupling member and closed by the shank when the shank is retracted into the coupling.

3. A sprinkler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shank and collar are interconnected by a boss and slot arrangement to inhibit separation of the body portion from the coupling member, whilst allowing limited relative movement therebetween.

4. A sprinkler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the boss is provided on the shank and the collar includes said slot and wherein the slot extends in a direction parallel to a direction in which the shank is moved, for retraction and extension relative to the collar.

5. A sprinkler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sprinkler includes a plug and a strut between the plug and the coupling member to prevent relative movement between the shank and the coupling member when the plug is seated in the bore.

6. A sprinkler system including a plurality of sprinklers formed in accordance with the sprinkler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.