Button-Actuated Sprinkler Assembly With Compression-Pin Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire suppression sprinklers face challenges in manufacturing cost and complexity due to the use of metal components, which require multiple parts and assembly steps, and there is a need for improved sealing mechanisms to prevent leakage during non-activation states.
Innovation Solution
The sprinkler assembly utilizes polymeric materials like glass fiber enforced polyphenylene sulfide for reduced part count and cost, and incorporates a compression pin mechanism with a button and seal to ensure proper sealing by aligning and compressing a conical spring seal using alignment pins, ensuring the sprinkler remains closed until activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components are used in sprinkler assembly, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs glass fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulfide, a composite material that combines the strength benefits of metal with the cost and manufacturing advantages of polymeric materials. This composite material provides sufficient structural strength for sprinkler components while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional metal to glass fiber reinforced polymeric material. This parameter change maintains the required mechanical strength while improving ease of manufacture through injection molding processes and reducing overall part count.
2Reliability
If multiple parts and assembly steps are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function into an integrated seal component that works with the button assembly. The seal is designed to be compressed by the button mechanism itself, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and reducing assembly steps while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The button mechanism serves dual functions: it acts as both the activation lever and the sealing mechanism. When the button is pressed, it simultaneously activates the sprinkler and compresses the seal to prevent leakage. This self-service approach reduces the number of separate parts needed for sealing.
3Reliability
If compression pin mechanism is added, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression pin is pre-positioned within the button assembly during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the button is installed in the sprinkler body, the compression pin automatically engages with the seal at the correct position, eliminating the need for complex assembly steps during final installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression pin acts as an intermediary element between the button and the seal. It transfers the compressive force from the button to the seal, ensuring proper sealing without requiring direct contact or complex interaction between the button and seal components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces manufacturing costs and complexity while providing reliable sealing, preventing leakage until activation, and allowing for efficient distribution of fire suppressant fluid when needed.
Implementation Method 1
a compression pin aperture extending from an outer surface of the body to the passage and configured to receive a compression pin, a button received within the passage, and a seal engaging the button and the body to fluidly seal the inlet from the outlet. The compression pin aperture is positioned such that the compression pin engages the button to force the button against the seal
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler includes a body defining (a) a passage having an inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of fire suppressant fluid, (b) an outlet fluidly coupled to the passage, and (c) a compression pin aperture extending from an outer surface of the body to the passage and configured to receive a compression pin, a button received within the passage, and a seal engaging the button and the body to fluidly seal the inlet from the outlet. The compression pin aperture is positioned such that the compression pin engages the button to force the button against the seal when the compression pin is inserted into the compression pin aperture.