Dry Sidewall Sprinkler With Segmented Wet-Dry Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection systems for ordinary hazard occupancies struggle to provide effective coverage under sloped or horizontal overhangs, especially in areas prone to freezing temperatures, and often require additional dry systems to prevent freezing of wet components.
Innovation Solution
A dry sidewall sprinkler system with a thermally responsive device that maintains the wet components in a controlled environment, allowing the dry portion to extend into freezing areas without needing a secondary dry system, providing extended coverage and protection through a tubular casing with a sealing assembly and deflector for efficient liquid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wet type sprinkler system is used to provide fire protection coverage, then the coverage area and water distribution effectiveness are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to freezing temperatures in uncontrolled environments
Solution Approach 1:
The sprinkler system is divided into two distinct segments: a wet type sprinkler assembly located in the controlled temperature environment that provides fire protection, and a dry type extension assembly that extends into the uncontrolled temperature environment. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific environmental conditions while working together as an integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermally responsive device acts as an intermediary between the wet and dry portions of the system. This device remains sealed in normal conditions but automatically opens in response to heat, allowing water to flow from the wet portion through the dry extension to the deflector, thus mediating the transition between the two system types.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a dry type system is installed in freezing areas to prevent freezing, then freezing protection is achieved, but the coverage area and water distribution effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both wet and dry type systems into a single integrated assembly. The wet type sprinkler assembly provides effective water distribution and coverage, while the dry type extension assembly provides freezing protection. By combining these two previously separate system types, the invention achieves both freezing protection and adequate coverage area without requiring a second separate system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a second dry type system is installed in freezing areas, then freezing protection is provided, but the system complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than installing a second separate dry type system, the invention merges the wet and dry type functionalities into a single integrated sprinkler assembly. This reduces system complexity by eliminating the need for two separate systems while still providing freezing protection through the dry type extension portion.
4Area of stationary object
If the coverage area is extended to 320 square feet for ordinary hazard occupancies, then the protection scope is improved, but the water distribution density and effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is designed with a specific geometry that changes the dimensional distribution of water. The deflector includes a face portion and a canopy portion that work together to distribute water in multiple directions and dimensions, ensuring adequate water distribution density across the extended coverage area of up to 320 square feet.
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 effectively protects areas under sloped or horizontal overhangs from freezing temperatures without a secondary dry system, offering extended coverage areas of up to 320 square feet with adequate water distribution density, ensuring compliance with NFPA standards.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally responsive device that maintains the wet components in a controlled environment
Implementation Method 2
a deflector coupled to the frame arms for distribution of the liquid discharged from the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A dry sidewall sprinkler and system and methods of installation provide extended coverage for ordinary hazard commodities. The preferred sprinkler and systems provide for sidewall ordinary hazard fire protection beneath a sloped or horizontal overhang extending from a structure by at least ten feet proximate to a garage or loading dock in accordance with applicable sections of NFPA-13 (2007).