Spray Head Movable Body Retaining Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray heads for fire extinguishing systems are prone to detachment during activation, leading to potential harm and exposure to external forces and vandalism, and lack a secure mechanism to prevent unwanted activation or separation of parts.

Innovation Solution

A movable spray head design with a retaining arrangement, utilizing a sealer ring or bonding agent, that maintains the spray head in an inactive position until pressurized medium forces it to a ready position, eliminating the need for a separate protective dome and preventing loose parts from detaching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate protection device is used to protect the nozzles and triggering device, then the spray head is protected from external forces and vandalism, but the protection device becomes detached during activation and may cause harm by striking people, animals or equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from external forcesVSAvoiddetached parts causing harm
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the protection function with the spray head body itself. The spray head body is designed to be movable between inactive and ready positions, eliminating the need for a separate protective dome. The body itself provides protection when in the inactive position covered by the fastening body, and becomes the active component when moved to the ready position, thus combining protection and functionality in one integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the protective dome as a separate component and eliminates it entirely. Instead of having a detached protection device that falls off during activation, the design uses the spray head body's own movement to provide protection when needed and functionality when activated, removing the harmful separate protection device from the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the spray head body is made movable to enable activation, then the spray head can transition from inactive to ready position, but the spray head body may become detached unintentionally due to external forces or vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovability for activationVSAvoidunwanted detachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining arrangement is designed to preemptively counteract external forces such as vibration and impacts that could cause unwanted detachment. The retaining elements engage with the spray head body before activation occurs, creating a secure connection that prevents premature movement while allowing controlled movement when activation is intended through the triggering device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fastening body and the spray head body. It provides a controlled connection that allows the spray head body to move from inactive to ready position when intended, while preventing unwanted movement due to external forces. The retaining elements engage and disengage in a controlled manner, mediating between the need for movability and the need for stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a retaining arrangement is added to prevent unwanted movement, then the spray head remains secure in inactive position, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure positioningVSAvoidretaining arrangement components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining arrangement is segmented into multiple simple retaining elements distributed around the spray head body. Each retaining element is a simple component that engages with a corresponding feature on the spray head body. This segmentation allows the retaining function to be achieved through multiple simple, redundant elements rather than a single complex mechanism, making the overall system more reliable while keeping individual components simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 provides effective protection against external forces and vandalism, ensuring the spray head remains secure and functional, even in harsh environments like public premises and vehicles, without risking unwanted activation or part separation.

Implementation Method 1

spray head body (3) being arranged to be movable by the pressure of the medium in relation to fastening body (2) from the first position to the second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

retaining arrangement (18, 19, 20) has been arranged between spray head body (3) and fastening body (2), adapted to keep spray head body (3) in the first position, until the pressure of the medium exceeds a preset value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2694165B1Spray head
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 MARIOFF CORP OY
  • EP2694165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2694165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2694165B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A spray head (1 ), comprising a fastening body (2), a spray head body (3) with at least one nozzle (4) and a thermally activated triggering device (5), said spray head body (3) being arranged into fastening body (2), in its cylinder space (21 ) to be movable between two positions, the first position, in which spray head is in the inactive state, and the second position, in which the spray head body is extended out, said spray head body (3) being arranged to be movable through the effect of pressurized medium in relation to fastening body (2) from the first position to the second position. A retaining arrangement (18, 19, 20) has been arranged between spray head body (3) and fastening body (2), adapted to keep spray head body (3) in the first position, until the pressure of the medium exceeds a preset value.