Concealed Space Sprinkler Deflector Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Concealed space fire protection systems under sloped ceilings face penalties in hydraulic design requirements, necessitating a 30% increase in operational area and water demand due to sloped ceiling and dry system constraints, which complicates effective fire protection in combustible concealed spaces like attics.

Innovation Solution

The use of specific application sprinklers with a deflector disposed beneath the roof, coupled to a wet or dry pipe system, arranged in a staggered configuration to provide equivalent hydraulic demand without increasing the hydraulic design area, thus eliminating penalties for sloped ceilings and reducing water demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard sprinklers are used in concealed spaces under sloped ceilings, then fire protection coverage is provided, but hydraulic design area must be increased by 30% and water demand increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protection coverageVSAvoidwater demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using specific application sprinklers with deflectors tailored for concealed space geometry. These sprinklers have specialized deflector designs (such as curved or angled deflectors) that redirect water flow to follow the sloped ceiling contours, concentrating water application where fire is most likely to occur in attic spaces while reducing overall water demand compared to standard sprinklers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters including sprinkler orientation (angled installation to match roof pitch), deflector geometry (custom-shaped deflectors for concealed spaces), and water flow distribution patterns. These parameter changes allow the system to achieve effective fire protection in sloped concealed spaces without requiring the 30% hydraulic design area increase mandated for standard sprinkler systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If dry pipe system is used in concealed spaces, then protection is provided for unheated areas, but hydraulic design area must be increased by 30% and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection in unheated areasVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using specific application sprinklers with deflectors tailored for concealed space geometry. These sprinklers have specialized deflector designs (such as curved or angled deflectors) that redirect water flow to follow the sloped ceiling contours, concentrating water application where fire is most likely to occur in attic spaces while reducing overall water demand compared to standard sprinklers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters including sprinkler orientation (angled installation to match roof pitch), deflector geometry (custom-shaped deflectors for concealed spaces), and water flow distribution patterns. These parameter changes allow the system to achieve effective fire protection in sloped concealed spaces without requiring the 30% hydraulic design area increase mandated for standard sprinkler systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If sprinkler system is designed for sloped ceilings, then fire protection is provided, but operational area must be increased by 30% and design requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protection under sloped ceilingVSAvoidhydraulic design area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using specific application sprinklers with deflectors tailored for concealed space geometry. These sprinklers have specialized deflector designs (such as curved or angled deflectors) that redirect water flow to follow the sloped ceiling contours, concentrating water application where fire is most likely to occur in attic spaces while reducing overall water demand compared to standard sprinklers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters including sprinkler orientation (angled installation to match roof pitch), deflector geometry (custom-shaped deflectors for concealed spaces), and water flow distribution patterns. These parameter changes allow the system to achieve effective fire protection in sloped concealed spaces without requiring the 30% hydraulic design area increase mandated for standard sprinkler systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8083002B1Combustible concealed space sprinkler system and method

Publication Date: 2011.12.27 TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP

AI summary

Methods and systems of fire protection of an attic space having a sloped roof above a ceiling deck so as to define a concealed space defining a protection area. The method includes disposing at least one upright sprinkler having a deflector disposed beneath the roof and coupled to either a wet or a dry pipe system and defining a hydraulic demand of the at least one sprinkler as being equivalent to a hydraulic demand for the protection area so as to eliminate any increase in the hydraulic design area for the sloped roof.