USRE40562EExpiredUtility

Retractable telescoping fire sprinkler

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 9, 2002Filed: Oct 27, 2006Granted: Nov 4, 2008

Est. expiryAug 9, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Theodore P. Naugler Eric Stucker Robert C. Naugler C. Daniel Swift

A62C 37/09

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References

Claims

Abstract

A retracting telescoping automatic fire sprinkler is disclosed. In a dry system, the sprinkler extends to its operating position under system pressure that is applied in response to a preaction signal. When system pressure is removed, as in after a test is completed, the sprinkler automatically retracts to its original position.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

1. A retracting telescoping fire sprinkler comprising:
an outer conduit adapted to contain an inner conduit, said outer conduit having a wall and defining a passage and including at least one opening in the wall proximate a first end of said outer conduit;
an inner conduit, adapted to move in and out of said outer conduit;
a first stop affixed to said first end to said outer conduit, proximate said at least one opening in said wall, said first stop defining a passage for said inner conduit;
a second stop, affixed to one end of said inner conduit, said second stop adapted to engage said first stop when the retracting telescoping fire sprinkler is extended;
a first seal affixed to an inner surface of said outer conduit between said inner conduit and said outer conduit proximate said first stop;
a second seal affixed to an outer surface of said inner conduit between said inner conduit and said outer conduit proximate said second stop;
said inner and outer conduits and said first and second seals defining a space in fluid communication with said at least one opening in the outer conduit wall;
a flow control valve in fluid communication with said at least one opening in the outer conduit wall;
a reservoir in fluid communication with said flow control valve; and
at least one spring adapted to apply tension to said inner conduit, wherein when said fire sprinkler is activated, a supply of pressurized fire extinguishing media exerts a force on said inner conduit to extend said inner conduit from said outer conduit, whereby said flow control valve controls the flow of a fluid between said space and said reservoir when said inner conduit is extending from said outer conduit, and wherein said at least one spring is adapted to retract said inner conduit back into a retracted position within said outer conduit, when said supply of pressurized fire extinguishing media is interrupted.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said outer conduit includes a first groove and said first seal disposed within the first groove.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2 wherein the first seal is exposed beyond the first groove so that the first seal engages the outer surface of said inner conduit.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said inner conduit includes a second groove and said second seal disposed within the second groove.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein the second seal is exposed beyond the second groove so that the second seal engages the inner surface of said outer conduit.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the first seal includes an engagement portion for engaging the outer surface of said inner conduit and the engagement portion disposed between the inner conduit and outer conduit.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the second seal includes an engagement portion for engaging the inner surface of said outer conduit and the engagement portion disposed between the inner conduit and outer conduit.

8. The sprinkler head of claim 1 wherein the outer conduit includes a collar and the first seal is disposed adjacent to the collar.

9. The sprinkler head of claim 1 wherein the inner conduit includes a collar and the second seal is disposed adjacent to the collar.

10. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said inner conduit includes a head and the fire extinguishing media exerts a force on the head in order to extend said inner conduit from said outer conduit.

11. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the first stop includes a nipple formed by a first annular rim formed within said outer conduit.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11 wherein the passage of the first stop is formed by a first bore defined by the first annular rim.

13. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the second stop includes a nipple formed by a second annular rim.

14. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the flow control valve includes a gate having an orifice formed therein and the orifice for controlling the flow of the media into the reservoir.

15. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the media is a glycerine- water mixture and the opening has a predetermined diameter in order to result in media retraction times of about 16 seconds.

16. A retracting telescoping fire sprinkler comprising:
an outer conduit adapted to contain an inner conduit, said outer conduit having a wall and defining a passage and including at least one opening in the wall proximate a first end of said outer conduit; an inner conduit, adapted to move in and out of said outer conduit; a first stop disposed at said first end of said outer conduit; a second stop disposed at one end of said inner conduit, said second stop adapted to engage said first stop when the retracting telescoping fire sprinkler is extended; a first seal affixed to an inner surface of said outer conduit; a second seal affixed to an outer surface of said inner conduit; said inner and outer conduits and said first and second seals defining a space in fluid communication with said at least one opening in the outer conduit wall; a flow control valve in fluid communication with said at least one opening in the outer conduit wall; a reservoir in fluid communication with said flow control valve; and said fire sprinkler is activated, a supply of pressurized fire extinguishing media exerts a force generally on said inner conduit to extend said inner conduit from said outer conduit, whereby said flow control valve controls the flow of a fluid between said space and said reservoir when said inner conduit is extending from said outer conduit, and wherein said at least one spring is adapted to retract said inner conduit back into a retracted position within said outer conduit, when said supply of pressurized fire extinguishing media is interrupted.

17. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the inner surface of said outer conduit includes a first groove and said first seal disposed within the first groove.

18. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the outer surface of said inner conduit includes a second groove and said second seal disposed within the second groove.

19. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the outer conduit includes a collar and the first seal is disposed adjacent to the collar.

20. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the inner conduit includes a collar and the second seal is disposed adjacent to the collar.

21. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein said inner conduit includes a head and the fire extinguishing media exerts a force on the head in order to extend said inner conduit from said outer conduit.

22. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the first stop includes a nipple formed by a first annular rim formed within said outer conduit.

23. The sprinkler of claim 22 wherein the passage of the first stop is formed by a first bore defined by the first annular rim.

24. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the second stop includes a nipple formed by a second annular rim.

25. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the flow control valve includes a gate having an orifice formed therein and the orifice for controlling the flow of the media into the reservoir.

26. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the media is a glycerine- water mixture and the opening has a predetermined diameter in order to result in media retraction times of about 16 seconds.

27. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein a pair of springs act to retract said inner conduit back into a retracted position within said outer conduit following activation of the sprinkler by the media.

28. A retracting telescoping fire sprinkler comprising:
an outer conduit adapted to contain an inner conduit, said outer conduit having a stop disposed at one end, said stop defining a passage; an inner conduit adapted to move into and out of said passage of said outer conduit; said outer conduit and said inner conduit defining a space therebetween; a first seal disposed at least partly in said space between said inner conduit and said outer conduit; a second seal disposed at least partly in said space between said inner conduit and said outer conduit; a flow controlling valve in fluid communication with said space; a reservoir in fluid communication with said flow controlling valve that adjusts the rate of flow from said space to said reservoir; and at least one spring adapted to apply tension to said inner conduit.

29. The sprinkler of claim 28 wherein the flow controlling valve includes a gate having an orifice formed therein and the orifice for controlling the flow into the reservoir.

30. The sprinkler of claim 28 wherein the adjustment to the flow controlling valve is provided by a preaction signal in response to a manual pull station or test signal.

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