Patent ID: 9415250
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: A62C

Claim Text:
1. A dry sprinkler comprising: a fluid conduit that is configured to couple to a fluid supply, the conduit having a first end and a second end; a valve that is positioned proximate to the first end of the conduit, the valve having (i) a closed state that prevents fluid from the fluid supply from flowing through the conduit, and (ii) an open state that allows fluid from the fluid supply to flow through the conduit; a fire sprinkler head positioned proximate to the second end of the conduit, the fire sprinkler head having a thermally responsive element that reacts to an elevated temperature condition; and an unbiased tie positioned within the conduit and being operably coupled to the valve, the unbiased tie having at least an unengaged state and an engaged state, wherein (i) the unbiased tie is not biased towards the sprinkler head in the unengaged state, (ii) the reaction of the thermally responsive element to the elevated temperature condition causes the tie to change from the unengaged state to the engaged state, and (iii) changing the tie to the engaged state from the unengaged state allows the valve to change from the closed state to the open state; and an engagement action that is coupled to the unbiased tie, the engagement action (i) being triggered when the thermally responsive element reacts to the elevated temperature condition, (ii) causing the tie to change from the unengaged state to the engaged state, when triggered, thereby allowing the valve to change from the closed state to the open state, and (iii) including a tubular member that is located proximate to the second end of the fluid conduit and is supported by the thermally responsive element such that when the thermally responsive element reacts to the elevated temperature, the tubular member is no longer supported by the thermally responsive element and can move towards the sprinkler head; wherein one end of the unbiased tie operatively engages the tubular member such that the one end of the unbiased tie moves with the tubular member.