Plastic Fire Sprinkler Head With Integrated Thermal Locking Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire sprinkler heads are complex in construction and manufacturing, requiring individual element assembly and replacement of thermal detectors and sealing members, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fire sprinkler head with thermal sensitive locking members that fail at a predetermined temperature, allowing for a simpler manufacturing process through injection molding without assembly, and featuring design flexibility for discharge openings that can produce small water jets or sprays without deflection members, using the same or different plastic materials for the body and locking members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire sprinkler heads use metal components and frangible bulbs with separate sealing members, then the sealing function and fire detection function are achieved, but the construction becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing member and the frangible bulb into a single integrated unit made from the same plastic material. The sealing portion is formed as an integral part of the sprinkler head body, eliminating the need for separate metal sealing members and frangible bulbs. This merging reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall construction while maintaining the sealing and fire detection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the same plastic material for both the body of the sprinkler head and the sealing portion, creating a homogeneous structure. This eliminates the need for assembling different materials (metal and plastic) and allows for simplified manufacturing through injection molding. The sealing portion is formed from the same material as the main body, ensuring compatibility and simplifying production.
2Reliability
If fire sprinkler heads are made with multiple individual elements that require assembly, then the sealing and detection functions are achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member and frangible bulb are merged into a single molded component, allowing both elements to be manufactured in one injection molding process. This eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable sealing through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it forms the structural body of the sprinkler head, provides the sealing portion, and creates the frangible bulb for fire detection. This multi-functionality reduces the number of manufacturing steps and simplifies the production process while maintaining all necessary functions.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If reusable fire sprinkler heads use frangible bulbs and sealing members that must be replaced after activation, then the sprinkler can be reused, but the replacement process increases complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing portion and frangible bulb are combined into a single replaceable unit that is integrated with the body. After activation, the entire sprinkler head can be quickly replaced as a single unit, simplifying the repair process. The integrated design allows for rapid replacement without the need to handle multiple separate components.
4Productivity
If discharge openings are made larger to improve water distribution, then the fire fighting effectiveness increases, but the need for deflection means increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the deflection means entirely from the design. The discharge openings are designed with optimized geometry that allows water to be effectively distributed without requiring additional deflection components. This extraction of unnecessary elements simplifies the construction while maintaining water distribution effectiveness.
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 solution results in a cost-effective, easy-to-manufacture fire sprinkler head that provides an effective temporary fire barrier with enhanced cooling effects and vaporization of water, capable of being used in various fire fighting systems, including combustion engines, with reduced material costs and increased design freedom.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal sensitive locking member closing a discharge opening is designed to fail at a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
In case such glass tube is exposed to heat the liquid therein attends to expand and due to the raising pressure breaks the glass at a certain pressure
Implementation Method 3
the sprinkler head is exposed to a certain temperature. Such sprinkler is held in its closed state - its surveillance mode - by a thermal detector
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A head (1) to discharge a fire fighting agent comprising a plastic body (2) with means (3) at its first end to connect the head (1) to a fire fighting agent bearing installation; with a central passage (6) extending through the connection means (3) into a discharge section (4) of the body (2); and with at least one discharge opening (9) connecting the central pas- sage (6) of the discharge section (4) with the outside of the body (2, 2.1), which discharge opening (9) is closed in the surveillance mode of the head (1) and which discharge opening (9) is open for the release of fire fighting agent in its fire fighting mode, whereas the cross sectional area of each of the at least one discharge opening (9) is smaller than the cross sectional area of the central passage (6) extending through the connection means (3), which discharge opening (9) is closed by a thermal sensitive locking member (10) failing upon heat exposure easier than the body (2), thereby opening the discharge opening (9) for the release of fire fighting agent, which temperature sensitivity of the locking member (10) is designed that it fails at a predetermined temperature.