Sprinkler Clip Detent Axis for Closure Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire protection sprinklers face challenges in ensuring that operating elements clear the frame and deflector without getting caught in the fluid path upon activation, leading to frustration for manufacturers in maintaining reliable water distribution patterns.
Innovation Solution
A fire protection sprinkler design incorporating a clip with a detent on a wrench boss, allowing the closure element to rotate about a predetermined axis and move away from the sprinkler body upon actuation, facilitated by a resilient clip structure that engages with the closure element and sprinkler body, ensuring efficient fluid flow without impairment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional release mechanism is used without a predetermined rotation axis, then the closure element can be released, but the closure element may get caught in the fluid path and impair water distribution pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the rotation axis through the detent-clip arrangement before actuation occurs. The detent on the wrench boss and the corresponding clip establish a predetermined rotation path in advance, ensuring that when the closure element is released, it follows the correct trajectory to clear the fluid path without getting caught in the deflector or frame.
2Reliability
If the closure element is designed to clear the frame and deflector, then water distribution pattern is maintained, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wrench boss serves multiple functions: it provides a mechanical advantage point for installation/removal tools, and it houses the detent that guides the closure element's rotation path. By making the wrench boss multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components solely for guiding the closure element, thus reducing overall design complexity while maintaining reliable water distribution patterns.
3Reliability
If an ejection spring is used to urge the cap away, then the cap clears the sprinkler frame, but the mechanism becomes more complex and may interfere with fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ejection spring from the release mechanism, eliminating the need for separate urging components. Instead, the resilient clip itself provides the necessary urging force to move the closure element along the predetermined rotation path, simplifying the overall mechanism while ensuring reliable clearance from the sprinkler frame.
4Reliability
If a kick spring is added to assist clearing, then operating elements clear the path better, but the device complexity and potential fluid interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the kick spring with the resilient clip. The clip simultaneously provides the urging force to move the closure element and guides it along the predetermined rotation path defined by the detent. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate kick spring components while maintaining effective clearance of operating elements from the fluid path.
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 enables reliable and efficient clearance of the closure element from the fluid path, preventing impairment to the water distribution pattern and enhancing the operational reliability of fire protection sprinklers across various configurations and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally-responsive element positioned to releasably retain the closure element
Implementation Method 2
a resilient clip structure that engages with the closure element and sprinkler body
Data Source
AI summary
A fire protection sprinkler includes a sprinkler body having a boss including a circumferential portion having flat edges, and including a cavity on one of the flat edges, a closure element configured to be held in an output orifice to seal a flow of fluid from the output orifice, and a clip. The clip has a first portion that is engaged with the closure element, and a second portion configured to be inserted into the cavity on the one of the flat edges of the circumferential portion of the boss of the sprinkler body, and configured to contact the cavity such that, upon actuation of the fire protection sprinkler, the clip rotates about an axis passing through two points of contact between the cavity and the second portion, and moves the closure element moves away from the sprinkler body to permit the flow of fluid from the output orifice.