Concealed Fire Sprinkler with Heat-Responsive Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire suppression systems with sprinklers can be aesthetically unpleasing due to projecting parts, particularly in living spaces, and there is a need for a concealed sprinkler system that can be automatically deployed in response to heat.

Innovation Solution

A fire suppression sprinkler assembly with a housing and a rotatable sprinkler body that is concealed within the housing until a heat-responsive element, such as a fluid-containing heat bulb, senses a predetermined temperature, allowing the sprinkler body to extend and deploy fluidly through nozzles for dispersion, without the need for electronic activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sprinklers are installed to provide fire suppression, then fire protection is achieved, but projecting parts create aesthetic displeasure in living spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The sprinkler body is nested within the housing structure, allowing it to be concealed when not in use and only extend when fire suppression is required. This nesting approach resolves the contradiction by hiding the functional component during normal conditions while maintaining accessibility during emergencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sprinkler body transitions from a static concealed state to a dynamic extended state in response to thermal conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain aesthetic appearance during normal conditions while providing functional visibility and operation during fire events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If a concealed sprinkler design is used to improve aesthetics, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the sprinkler body must be automatically deployed upon heat detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidautomatic deployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-responsive element automatically triggers the deployment mechanism when it detects predetermined temperature conditions, eliminating the need for external control systems or power sources. This self-service approach resolves the complexity issue by using passive thermal response rather than active electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic or mechanically complex actuation systems with a simple heat-responsive mechanical element that directly translates thermal expansion into deployment motion. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining reliable automatic deployment functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Shape

If the sprinkler body is concealed within the housing, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the sprinkler body must extend rapidly when heat is detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoiddeployment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The sprinkler body is pre-positioned within the housing in a ready state, with the heat-responsive element already in place to trigger immediate deployment. This preliminary preparation ensures that when heat is detected, the extension action can occur rapidly without delay for positioning or activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat-responsive element utilizes thermal expansion or phase change mechanisms to convert thermal energy directly into mechanical motion, enabling rapid deployment of the sprinkler body from the concealed to the extended position in response to fire conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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

The system provides effective and aesthetically concealed fire suppression with rapid deployment in response to high temperatures, ensuring timely activation and efficient fluid distribution without the need for electronic activation or pre-pressurization of the fluid supply line.

Implementation Method 1

A heat responsive element is operatively associated with the sprinkler body and configured to facilitate preventing deployment of the sprinkler body from the first position to the second position until the heat responsive element senses a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

The sprinkler body is rotatably coupled to the housing such that the sprinkler body rotates as it transitions from the first position to the second position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentEP3223919B1Automatically deployed fire suppression sprinkler

Publication Date: 2020.01.01 MARIOFF CORP OY

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6

AI summary

In one aspect, a fire suppression sprinkler assembly (10) is provided. The assembly includes a housing (20), and a sprinkler body (22) disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to supply a fluid to an area. The sprinkler body is movable between a first position where the sprinkler body is concealed within the housing and a second position where the sprinkler body extends from the housing to supply the fluid to the area heat responsive element (28) operatively associated with the sprinkler body and configured to facilitate preventing deployment of the sprinkler body from the first position to the second position until the heat responsive element senses a predetermined temperature.