Fire Sprinkler Deflector Support Prevents Lodgment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fire protection sprinklers often experience hang-up or lodgment issues, where operational parts become stuck, leading to impaired water distribution and altered spray patterns, which can exceed 60 seconds and affect the sprinkler's performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a thermally-responsive element with levers and rods that slide between housing members, a deflector connected to these rods, and a support cup configuration that allows for stable deflector positioning, preventing lodgment by ensuring consistent fluid dispersion and maintaining a stable spray pattern.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sprinkler design is used, then结构简单性 is maintained, but hang-up occurs causing impaired water distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesprinkler operation reliabilityVSAvoidsprinkler structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component (deflector support member with rod and housing) between the seal cap and the deflector. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact and potential lodgment of the seal cap with the deflector, thereby resolving the hang-up issue while maintaining overall structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sprinkler structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the seal cap, the deflector support member with movable rod, and the deflector. This segmentation allows independent movement and function of each component, preventing interference and hang-up while maintaining structural coherence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If deflector is fixed rigidly, then spray pattern stability is improved, but lodgment of operational parts occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray pattern stabilityVSAvoidoperational parts reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The deflector support member incorporates a movable rod that can dynamically adjust its position within the housing. This dynamic structure allows the deflector to maintain stable positioning during normal operation while providing clearance for operational parts to move freely, preventing lodgment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The housing members are positioned and dimensioned to preemptively prevent lodgment of operational parts. The clearance and geometric arrangement are designed in advance to ensure that even under high pressure, operational parts cannot become trapped between the deflector and the sprinkler body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If seal cap moves freely upon activation, then release reliability is improved, but lodgment between frame and deflector occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal cap release reliabilityVSAvoidwater distribution performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deflector support member acts as an intermediary that guides the seal cap's movement upon activation. The seal cap moves along the rod within the housing, preventing direct contact with the deflector and frame, thereby maintaining both release reliability and proper water distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric arrangement of the housing members and rod creates self-guiding constraints that naturally direct the seal cap's movement path. The structure itself provides the guidance needed to prevent lodgment while ensuring reliable release, without requiring additional active control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration effectively prevents hang-up by maintaining the deflector's stability and ensuring consistent fluid distribution, reducing the likelihood of operational parts becoming stuck and altering the spray pattern, thus enhancing the sprinkler's performance and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a thermally-responsive element positioned to releasably retain the seal cap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal response: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS8776903B2Lodgment prevention arrangements for fire sprinklers

Publication Date: 2014.07.15 JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA

AI summary

A fire protection sprinkler is provided. The sprinkler includes a body having an output orifice and a flange; a seal cap to seal a flow of fluid from the output orifice; and a thermally-responsive element positioned to releasably retain the seal cap and constructed to separate into a plurality of portions upon exposure to a predetermined temperature. The sprinkler also includes at least one deflector support member, a deflector connected to the deflector support member, and at least one arm extending from each of the deflector support members. Each of the arms has a free end positioned in spaced relation to the thermally-responsive element to contact the portions of the thermally-responsive element upon separation thereof. In another embodiment, the sprinkler includes at least one arm extending from the flange, and the arms may be formed as a bracket.