Fire Sprinkler Trigger Assembly with Thermal Conductor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fire protection sprinklers have a slow response time due to the time required for heat fusible material to melt and disengage the trigger mechanism, which can delay the release of fire suppressants, potentially increasing personal injury and property damage.

Innovation Solution

A heat-responsive trigger assembly with a thermally conductive conductor member that facilitates rapid heat conduction, reducing the time needed for the heat fusible material to melt and disengage the fusible link, allowing for quicker release of fire suppressants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional heat fusible material is used without thermal conduction enhancement, then the sprinkler maintains structural simplicity, but the response time is slow delaying fire suppressant release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidtrigger assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A thermally conductive conductor member is introduced as an intermediary element between the heat fusible material and the trigger mechanism. This conductor member rapidly conducts heat from the heat fusible material to the trigger mechanism, significantly reducing the response time while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the trigger mechanism is made highly sensitive for rapid activation, then the response time decreases improving fire safety, but the risk of false activation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression reliabilityVSAvoidfalse activation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal conductivity parameter of the conductor member is optimized to achieve rapid heat transmission while maintaining temperature sensitivity within a specific range. This parameter optimization allows the trigger mechanism to activate reliably at fire temperatures while resisting false activation from normal environmental temperature variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 faster activation of the sprinkler, enhancing its ability to mitigate or prevent fire damage by reducing the response time and ensuring timely discharge of fire suppressants.

Implementation Method 1

a thermally conductive conductor member that facilitates rapid heat conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2432565B1Fire protection sprinkler with highly sensitive trigger

Publication Date: 2017.06.28 VIKING

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AI summary

A heat responsive trigger assembly for a fire protection sprinkler may include a first plate having a bottom face; a second plate including a top face engaging the bottom face; a thermally conductive member disposed between the top and bottom faces and extending beyond a perimeter of at least one of the first and second plates; and a heat fusible material securing the first and second plates in an engaged position. The first and second plates may disengage in response to the heat fusible material reaching a predetermined temperature, thereby allowing a fire suppressant to discharge from the sprinkler.