Patent ID: 8528653
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: A62C

Abstract:
1. A dry sprinkler having an actuated state and an unactuated state, the dry sprinkler comprising: a tubular outer structure assembly having an inlet, an outlet and an inner surface defining a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the inlet and outlet, the dry sprinkler having a rated K factor defining an expected flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet divided by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the passageway in pounds per square inch gauge, the inlet including a portion of the inner surface defining a sealing surface and the outlet including a threaded outlet frame having a pair of frame arms and an inner outlet frame surface defining an opening of the outlet frame, the dry sprinkler further including; a trigger seat mounted in the opening of the outlet frame; a trigger assembly including a frangible bulb engaged with the trigger seat to define the unactuated state of the dry sprinkler, the bulb being heat/temperature responsive to define the actuated state of the sprinkler; a fluid deflecting structure coupled to the outlet frame such that the bulb is disposed between the trigger seat and the fluid deflecting structure, the fluid deflecting structure including a planar surface member; a closure assembly including a body and a metallic disc annulus mounted to the body, the metallic disc annulus being a resilient member having a face extending between an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, each perimeter being disposed about a central axis, the metallic disc annulus having an uncompressed state in which the inner and outer perimeters are in different planes with respect to central axis, the metallic disc annulus having a compressed state in which the inner and outer perimeters are in substantially the same plane with respect to the central axis; an inner assembly disposed in the passageway and having a length extending from the inlet to the outlet frame, the inner assembly including a yoke and a fluid tube coupled to the yoke, the fluid tube defining a cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sprinkler that varies along the length of the fluid tube, the inner assembly having a first position when the sprinkler is in the unactuated state in which the yoke supports the closure assembly such that the central axis of the metallic disc annulus is generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the sprinkler and the metallic annulus is in the compressed state in conjunction with the sealing surface to form a seal, the inner assembly having a second position axially translated from the first position when the sprinkler is in the actuated state; and a member that supports the body of the closure assembly, the member being supported and engaged along the inner surface of the tubular outer structure assembly between the inlet and the fluid tube, the metallic disc annulus being skewed from the longitudinal axis of the sprinkler when the inner assembly is in the second position so that a flow of fluid in gallons per minute from the outlet of the structure is at least 95 percent of the rated K factor multiplied by the square root of the pressure of the flow of fluid fed into the inlet of the structure in pounds per square inch gauge.