Flexible Thermal Trigger Assembly for Dry Sprinkler Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry sprinkler systems require precise measurement and custom fabrication, leading to delays and increased costs due to the need for accurate length customization and complex pressure regulation, limiting on-site installation flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A thermal trigger assembly with a flexible Bowden cable mechanism allows remote mechanical actuation of a valve, enabling on-site fabrication and installation of dry sprinkler equivalents to wet sprinkler systems, using a thermally responsive element to trigger the activation of the valve and release water when a predetermined temperature is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional dry sprinklers are custom-made to precise lengths, then manufacturing precision is improved, but installation time and productivity deteriorate due to delays in ordering, fabrication, and delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drop tube flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to bend and adapt to different installation spaces. This flexible drop tube can be cut to various lengths on-site and will naturally conform to the required position, eliminating the need for precise pre-fabrication while maintaining proper installation geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the dry sprinkler system into modular components: a valve assembly, a flexible drop tube that can be cut to length, and a sprinkler head. This segmentation allows the drop tube to be customized on-site through simple cutting rather than requiring entire assemblies to be pre-fabricated to precise dimensions
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional dry sprinklers are custom-made to precise lengths, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to ordering delays and fabrication wait times
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly and sprinkler head are prepared as complete units in advance, but the drop tube is left as a standard-length flexible component to be cut on-site. This preliminary preparation of key components combined with on-site customization of the drop tube eliminates ordering delays while maintaining precision through simple cutting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible drop tube is designed to be easily cut and installed by the installer using basic tools, without requiring specialized fabrication equipment or processes. The tube's flexibility allows it to self-adjust to the correct length and position, enabling installers to complete the customization themselves without waiting for factory fabrication
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid drop tubes are used in conventional dry sprinklers, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to accommodate varying installation distances and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static rigid drop tube with a dynamic flexible drop tube that can bend and adapt to different installation configurations. The flexibility allows the tube to navigate around obstructions and accommodate varying distances between the valve and ceiling, while maintaining structural integrity through its material properties and routing path
4Reliability
If conventional dry sprinkler systems are installed, then fire protection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases due to pressure regulation mechanisms and custom fabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex pressure regulation mechanisms from the dry sprinkler system. By using a flexible drop tube that can be simply cut to length and installed without specialized components, the system achieves fire protection reliability through straightforward installation rather than through complex regulatory mechanisms
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 solution enables rapid and cost-effective installation of dry sprinkler systems, reducing delays and costs by allowing flexible length adjustments and eliminating the need for complex pressure regulation, while providing reliable fire protection with conventional automatic sprinkler heads.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal trigger assembly is configured for remote mechanical actuation of another fire protection system component... A thermally responsive element retains the movable member in the preactivation position only until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached. The thermally responsive element is configured to lose structural integrity under the predetermined thermodynamic condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal trigger assembly for remote mechanical actuation of another fire protection system component includes an activation component having a base and a movable member. A bias member biases the movable member from a preactivation to an activated position with respect to the base. A thermally responsive element retains the movable member in the preactivation position until a predetermined thermodynamic condition is reached, when the thermally responsive element loses structural integrity. A flexible connector includes a flexible hollow outer cable housing with one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the base. A flexible cable is inside the outer cable housing for sliding movement therein and has one end configured to be stationarily (preferably fixedly) connected with the movable member. The flexible cable is moved with respect to the outer cable housing by movement of the movable member upon loss of structural integrity by the thermally responsive element.