Fire Sprinkler Assembly Pressure Relief Retention Thread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire protection sprinkler systems lack a safe and efficient mechanism to relieve fluid pressure before disconnection from the fluid supply piping, posing a risk during maintenance or replacement.
Innovation Solution
A sprinkler assembly with a tubular connection fitting and a fire protection sprinkler body featuring differing retention sections and threading mechanisms that allow for controlled decoupling and pressure relief, enabling safe disconnection by unthreading and rotating the sprinkler body to break the fluid tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the sprinkler is completely disconnected from the fluid supply piping for maintenance or replacement, then the sprinkler can be inspected or replaced, but fluid pressure causes injury risk to operators
Solution Approach 1:
The connection fitting is divided into two distinct engagement mechanisms: a sealing mechanism that forms a fluid-tight seal and a retention mechanism that provides mechanical retention. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while the retention function can be independently released, enabling pressure relief before complete disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is designed to be releasable before complete disconnection, allowing operators to perform a preliminary action of releasing retention while maintaining sealing engagement. This preliminary retention release creates a safety state where fluid pressure is relieved before the sprinkler is fully disconnected.
2Reliability
If a fluid tight seal is maintained during connection, then leakage is prevented, but the sprinkler cannot be easily disconnected for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The connection fitting separates the sealing function from the retention function into two independent mechanisms. The sealing mechanism maintains the fluid-tight seal while the retention mechanism provides mechanical holding. This allows the sealing to remain intact while the retention is released for maintenance disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to transition from a retained state during operation to a released state during maintenance. The differential threading enables directional control of the retention engagement and disengagement while the sealing mechanism remains static and maintains the fluid-tight seal throughout.
3Ease of operation
If the sprinkler body is rotated to begin withdrawal from the fitting, then controlled decoupling is achieved, but the fluid pressure must be relieved first
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism is designed to be released as a preliminary action before rotation and complete disconnection. By releasing the retention mechanism first, the sprinkler body can then be rotated and withdrawn in a controlled manner without the hazard of pressurized fluid release.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation of sealing and retention functions allows the retention to be independently released before rotation. This segmentation enables the controlled decoupling sequence where retention is released first, then rotation occurs under controlled conditions with pressure already relieved.
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler assembly include a connection fitting and a fire protection sprinkler. The connection fitting includes a tubular member with a first insertion end and a second insertion end with an internal conduit extending along a longitudinal axis, the tubular member including an exterior surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a sealing surface between the first and second insertion ends circumscribed about the longitudinal axis, the inner surface including a gripping portion spaced from the sealing surface. The fire protection sprinkler has a body defining an inlet and an outlet with a passageway between the inlet and the outlet, a deflector spaced from the outlet, the body having an outer encasing surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and including a leading portion and a trailing portion engaged with the gripping portion, having a first retention section and a second retention section.