Sprinkler head with filling check

Abstract: A sprinkler head includes a checking means for checking from the outside that fluid such as fire protection water has been filled inside of a sprinkler head body. A method for checking that the fluid such as fire protection water has been filled includes providing a movable rod inside of the sprinkler head body in such a manner as to be moved backward and forward when the fluid has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body, and checking that the fluid has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body by observing a position of the movable rod from the outside.

Description: This invention relates to a sprinkler head having a checking means for checking that fluid has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body and a method for checking that the fluid has been filled using such sprinkler head. There are hitherto sprinkler heads of this type. An example is described in the specification of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-109661 filed by the applicant of the present invention. The sprinkler head described therein is characterized in that a plug is pushed upwardly and is maintained at a position so as to close an outlet port of a head frame. The sprinkler head of this arrangement is generally mounted on a ceiling plane of a room or the like in a state where fire protection water is filled inside of the head frame such that the sprinker head can sprinkle the fire protection water once fire has occurred. However, since such conventional plug merely serves to close the outlet port of the head frame, the filled state of the fire protection water inside of the sprinkler head body could not be checked from the outside, which presents an inherent disadvantage. Therefore, when the fire protection water is not filled inside of the sprinkler head body due to an insufficient connection of distributing water pipes or other accidents in communicating the fluid, such undesirable state cannot be found before the fire occurs, which causes serious troubles in extinguishing the fire with the sprinkler head. EP-0 183 263, GB-2 084 014, GB - 722 837 and FR-2 513 523 disclose fire extinguishing devices comprising a container with fire extinguisher and an outlet that is directly mounted to said containers. Systems are disclosed wherein a movable rod is incorporated in the wall of the container or in an outlet valve to indicate the level and/or pressure of fire extinguisher present in the container. WO-81/02484 discloses further a device for detecting leaks in piping systems that uses also a movable rod. Devices of this kind only indicate that there is no leak; they do not indicate that e. g. extinguishing fluid is present in each sprinkler head. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler head and a method for enabling a user to readily check from the outside that fluid has been filled inside of a sprinkler head body, and to find the insufficient connection of distributing water pipes or the like. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sprinkler system consisting of a system of pipes connected to a supply of fire extinguishing fluid, said sprinkler system being connected with a plurality of sprinkler heads projecting into the room, each comprising a plug that automatically opens an outlet port of the sprinkler head when a specific temperature is reached, characterized in that each sprinkler head includes a checking means that visually indicates the presence of fire extinguishing fluid at said plug, said checking means having the form of an outwardly threaded portion screwed into a through-hole of said plug and a rod movable in axial direction inside a through-hole of said sprinkler head which, when in communication with fire extinguishing fluid, can be moved forward or backward into a specific indicating position, or said checking means having the form of a valve located in a through-hole which can be operated to trigger the dripping out of fire extinguishing fluid. There is further provided a method for checking the proper connection of sprinkler heads or distribution pipes and for locating interruptions in the piping of such a sprinkler system, characterized in that the change in position of a checking means having the form of a movable rod and associated with each sprinkler head is observed, or that a dripping test is carried out by operating a valve using a movable rod. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims. Accordingly, in the sprinkler head and the method of the present invention, the filled state of the fluid inside each sprinkler head body can readily be checked from the outside. Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein: FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating one of operational steps of the sprinkler head of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating one of operational steps of the sprinkler head of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is an partially enlarged sectional view illustrating an actual use of the sprinkler head of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a still further embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates the first embodiment of the present invention. A head frame 1 is provided therein with a passageway 2 for fire protection water. A frame 3, having a substantially cylindrical shape, is threaded into an annular concaved portion of the head frame 1. A plug 4 is provided on its lower periphery with a collar portion 6, and is arranged inside of a sprinkler head body 27 so as to close an outlet port 5 defined in a lower portion of the head frame 1. A through-hole 8 is defined substantially in the center of the plug 4. Internal threads 7 are formed on an internal periphery of a lower portion of the through-hole 8. A diameter of the upper end of the through-hole 8 is smaller than that of the other portion of the through-hole 8. An outwardly threaded portion 9 is threaded into the internal threads 7. A through-hole 10 with its lower portion of hexagonal shape is defined substantially in the center of the outwardly threaded portion 9 and is associated with the through-hole 8 in fluid communication with each other. A sealing means (not shown) is applied between the outwardly threaded portion 9 and the internal threads 7 of the plug 4. A spring member 14, consisting of a belleville spring coated with fluoroplastic, is provided between a lower end of the outlet port 5 of the head frame 1 and an upper surface of the collar portion 6 of the plug 4, and is urged by a predetermined pressure. An inner periphery of the spring member 14 is fit in an internally extending annular groove 6a which is defined in the collar portion 6 of the plug 4. A plurality of deflectors 15, each of which having a bent portion, are connected to an outer periphery of the plug 4. A guide ring 16, having a guide member 16a which is vertically oriented and slidably abuts against an outer surface of the head frame 1, is connected to an upper end of the deflectors 15 so as to serve as a guide when the plug 4 falls down. A detent member 17 is formed in a partially cutaway ring-shape, and is elastically deformable so as to diametrally expand and contract. A pair of restraining members 18, 19 are arranged so as to restrain the decent member 17. A hole 18a is defined in an upper surface of the upper restraining member 18 such that a lower portion of the outernally threaded portion 9 can be inserted into that hole 18a. A cylindrical portion 18b of the upper restraining member 18 is provided on its inner periphery with internal threads 18c, and is slidably inserted into a cylindrical portion 19a of the lower restraining member 19. An upwardly sloped surface 20 and a downwardly sloped surface 21 are respectively defined on the restraining members 18, 19. The sloped surfaces 20, 21 come closer to each other as they advance inwardly so as to hold the detent member 17 in tensioned state. The detent member 17 is held between the sloped surfaces 20, 21, and an inner periphery of an inwardly projecting portion 22 defined on an inner periphery of the lower portion of the head frame 1. A lock screw 23 is threaded into the internal threads 18c of the upper restraining member 18. A through-hole 23a is defined coaxially in a center portion of the lock screw 23. On a lower surface of the lower restraining member 19 is provided a thermal insulating packing 24, on which a thermal sensitive member 25 is provided. A heat meltable member 26 is provided between the thermal sensitive member 25 and an outwardly extending flange 23b formed on a lower end of the lock screw 23 in heat conductive relationship with the thermal sensitive member 25. A movable rod 11 has a rod-shaped projection 11a on its upper end, a pin 11b on its lower end, and is inserted into a bore of the outernally threaded portion 9 via an elastic member 12 consisting of a coil spring so as to be moved backward and forward. The movable rod 11 is usually urged in an upward direction by the elastic member 12 such that a lower end of the pin 11b becomes flush with a lower surface of the lock screw 23 which defines some region of a lower surface of the sprinkler head 27, as illustrated in FIG. 1. On a side periphery of the pin 11b closer to the lower end thereof is applied fluorescent paint. An O-ring 13 seal is mounted to an outer periphery of the movable rod 11 for sealing between an inner periphery of the outernally threaded portion 9 and an outer periphery of the movable rod 11. The application of the sprinkler head in accordance with this embodiment, which includes the sprinkler head body 27 and the movable rod 11, will be described hereinbelow. First, the sprinkler head is fixed at a predetermined position on a ceiling plane. The sprinkler head is connected with a distributing water pipe (not shown) through a connecting pipe (not shown). Then, the fire protection water is communicated with the distributing water pipe. In this regard, when the fire protection water had bean filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27, the movable rod 11 is moved downwardly by the pressure of the fire protection water applied thereover, while resisting the spring force of the elastic member 12, and consequently the pin 11b protrudes outwardly away from the lower surface of the lock screw 23 (fig. 2). On the other hand, when the fire protection water has not been sufficiently filled or it has not been filled at all inside of the sprinkler head body 27, the pin 11b of the movable rod 11 does not protrude sufficiently or it does not protrude at all to the outside (fig 1). The filled state of the fire protection water inside of the sprinkler head body can be checked by observing a position of the pin 11b in this manner. In addition, since the fluorescent paint is applied over the side periphery of the lower end of the pin 11b the position of the pin 11b can be observed at night or the like. Accordingly, insufficiently connected portions of the pipes can be found previously. And when the fire protection water has not been sufficiently filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27, the filled state of the water is checked again after checking the piping or the like. As a further advantage of the present invention, the sprinkler head with such a simple construction can be manufactured readily in a cheap manner. Once the fire has occurred and caused the thermal sensitive member 25 to increase its temperature, the heat meltable member 26 is melted or softened, and the lower restraining member 19 moves downwardly. Then, the detent member 17 is contracted inwardly, and is released from the locking relationship with the inwardly projecting portion 22 of the frame 3. The upper restraining member 18, the outernally threaded portion 9 and the plug 4 fall down to the lower direction of the head frame 1 by the spring force of the spring member 14. Consequently, the fire protection water is flashed from the outlet port which has been opened, collides against an upper surface of the plug 4, and is sprinkled radially. In this embodiment, the pin 11b generally becomes flush with the lower surface of the lock screw 23 by urging the movable rod 11 with the elastic member 12. However, the whole length of the pin 11b can be positioned inside of the lock screw. Or a relatively short length thereof can be positioned outside of the lock screw 23. It is essential that the filled state of the fluid such as the fire protection water inside of the sprinkler head body 27 can be checked by arranging the movable rod 11 so as to protrude to the outside after the fluid has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the sprinkler head of the above embodiment. It can be applied to a sprinkler head as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which a flexible bellows 28 with a bottom wall disposed on a lower end thereof is mounted in the through-hole 8 of the plug 4 and abuts against the upper end of the movable rod 11, and a covering member having a through-hole 29, is threaded into the internal threads 7 of the through-hole 8. Further, it can be applied to a dry sprinkler head where gas such as air is filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27. Contrary to the first embodiment where the movable rod 11 protrudes outwardly when the fire protection water has been filled inside of the sprinkle, head body 27, in a third embodiment which will be described hereinbelow, the movable rod 11 is introduced into the sprinkler head body 27. Since, the main features of the sprinkler head of the third embodiment are the same as that of the first embodiment, only different features between the embodiments will be described hereinbelow. Referring to FIG. 4, the movable rod 11 is provided on its upper end with a movable member 31 which is slidably inserted into the through-hole 10 of the outwardly threaded portion 9. The movable rod 11 is usually tensioned downwardly as a usual state with the elastic member 12 of the coil spring, and the lower end of the movable rod 11 protrudes outwardly away from the lower surface of the lock screw 23. The lower end surface of the movable rod 11 is painted with the fluorescent paint (not shown). A passageway 32 is coaxially defined in a center of the movable member 31. A lower end of the passageway 32 is divided into several passageways, each of which extends in a radial direction. The divided passageways are associated with and in fluid communication with a space 34 defined by an inner periphery of the through-hole 10 of the outernally threaded portion 9 and a stepped portion 33 of the movable member 31. A ring seal 35 of X-shape in cross section is mounted between the outwardly threaded portion 9 and the movable member 31. A lower surface 33a of the stepped portion 33 of the movable member 31 is larger than an upper surface 11c of the movable rod 11. In the sprinkler head according to the above-defined arrangement, when the fire protection water has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27, it is introduced into the space 34 via the passageway 32 of the movable rod 11, and its pressure is applied over the lower surface 33a of the stepped portion 33. Then, the movable rod 11 is forced to move upwardly by the pressure of the fire protection water, while resisting the spring force of the elastic member 12, since the lower surface 33a is larger than the upper surface 11c of the movable rod 11. Thereby the movable rod 11 is drawn into the sprinkler head body 27 such that the lower surface of the movable rod 11 becomes flush with the lower surface of the lock screw 23 (fig. 5). On the other hand, when the fire protection water has not been filled inside of the sprinkler head body 27, the movable rod 11 does not move inwardly, and a partially protruded portion of which is maintained in an initial position (fig. 4). Thereby the unfilled state of the fire protection water can be readily checked by observing such position of the movable rod 11 from the outside, and subsequently the insufficient connecting of the pipes or other accidents in communicating the fluid can be found before the fire occurs. As the first embodiment, the arrangement of this embodiment can be applied to the dry sprinkler head, in which gas such as air is filled inside of the head frame 1. In the first three embodiments, the filled state of the fire protection water inside of the sprinkler head body 27 can be checked by observing the motion of the movable rod 11 from the outside. However, the filled state can be checked by a different means described in the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the main features of the sprinkler head is also same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, only different features between the embodiment, will be described hereinbelow. In FIG. 6, a plurality of holes 4a are defined above the collar portion 6 of the plug 4, each of which extends in a radial direction. A valve 36 includes a diametrically small portion defined on its lower end which is inserted into the through-hole 10 of the outwardly threaded portion 9, a valve body 36c having a diametrically large valve seat 36a defined on an upper end of the valve 36 and an elastic member 12 in the form of a conical coil spring which is mounted above the valve seat 36a. As a usual position of this arrangement, the valve body 36c is pressed downwardly by the elastic member 12, causing the pressure applied over the valve seat 36a and the stepped portion defined in the through-hole 10 of the outwardly threaded portion 9 via the O-ring 37, then closing the through-hole 10. A pin 36b is provided on an upper surface of the valve seat 36a, and is inserted into a diametrally small portion defined in an upper end of the through-hole 8 of the plug 4. A length of the pin 36b is determined such that an upper end thereof protrudes slightly and upwardly away from the upper surface of the plug 4 by a relatively short length, when the valve body 36c is pressed upwardly, while resisting the spring force of the elastic member 12. A sealing means is applied to a lower surface of the valve seat 36a. An outer diameter of each of the lower ends of the valve body 36c and the pin 36b is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the through-hole 10. In accordance with the above-defined arrangement, when the filled state of the fire protection water has to be checked, a pushing rod 38 of a suitable length is inserted into the through-hole 23a of the lock screw 23 to push a lower surface of the valve body 36c, while resisting the spring force of the elastic member 12 (fig. 7). Thereby the valve body 36c is moved upwardly such that a sealing condition between the valve seat 36a and the outwardly threaded portion 9 is released. Subsequently, a relatively small amount of the fire protection water drops out of the through-hole 23a of the lock screw 23 via the outlet port 5 of the sprinkler head body 27, the through-hole 8 of the plug 4 and the through-hole 10 of the outwardly threaded portion 9. Further, the pin 36b of the valve body 36c protrudes away from the through-hole 8 of the plug 4 by pressing the valve body 36c. Thereby, even if undesirable foreign materials such as a rubbish of a particular size are accumulated on the through-hole 8, they can be removed from the through-hole 8 by the motion of the pin 36b. After confirming that the fire protection writer has been dropped, the pushing rod 38 is pulled out of the through-hole 23a of the lock screw 23 to release the pressure applied over the valve body 36c, and subsequently return the valve body 36c to an initial position by a restoring force of the elastic member 12. Thus, the through-hole, 10 of the outwardly threaded portion 9 is closed to stop the dropping of the fire protection water. A seal for indicating that the filled state of the water has been tested, is bonded onto the through-hole 23a, which simultaneously serves to close the through-hole 23a. The fact that the fire protection water does not drop out of the through-hole 23a, indicates an unfilled state of the fire protection water, and insufficient connecting of the pipes or other accidents in communicating the water. In this case, the piping or the like is checked again and the filled state of the water is subsequently tested in the same manner as described above. Thus, the filled state of the fire protection water inside of the sprinkler head body 27 can be readily checked by such an extremely simple operation. A series of checking operations are generally made just after the piping has been completed. However, it is a matter of fact that they can be periodically made. The valve 36 of the present invention is not limited to this arrangement by all means, and it is essential to open and close the through-hole 8 defined in the plug 4 with the valve 36. However, when the valve 36 comprises the valve body 36a and the elastic member 12, a pushing member 40 can be formed integrally with the valve body 36c by fixing an end of the pushing member 40 to the lower surface of the valve body 36c, in which the other end of the pushing member 40 can protrude outwardly away from the through-hole 23a of the lock screw 23, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In addition, the outwardly threaded portion 9 can be omitted such that the valve body 36c can open and close the through-hole 8 of the plug 4. In this case, the plug 4, the valve body 36c, the elastic member 12 or other elements are formed such that the valve body 36c and the elastic member 12 can be mounted inside of the through-hole 8 from above of the plug 4. Further, the elastic member 12 is not limited to the conical coiled spring, and any means can be employed for the elastic member 12 of the conical coil spring. It is essential to press the valve body 36c by the elastic member 12. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It can be applied to the dry sprinkler head. In this case, the fire protection water, which has been undesirably accumulated inside of the head frame 1, can be drained out of the head frame 1 by opening and closing the valve 36, which leads to another advantage of the present invention. In addition, a specific arrangement such as a shape of the plug 4 can be fully designed within the scope of the present invention. This specification is by no means intended to restrict the present invention to the preferred embodiments set forth therein. Various modifications to the inventive sprinkler head having the checking means for checking that the fluid has been filled inside of the sprinkler head body and the method for checking that the fluid has been filled, as described herein, may be made by those skilled in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims: A sprinkler system consisting of a system of pipes connected to a supply of fire extinguishing fluid, said sprinkler system being connected with a plurality of sprinkler heads projecting into the room, each comprising a plug (4) that automatically opens an outlet port (5) of the sprinkler head when a specific temperature is reached, characterized in that each sprinkler head includes a checking means that visually indicates the presence of fire extinguishing fluid at said plug (4), said checking means having the form of an outwardly threaded portion (9) screwed into a through-hole (8) of said plug (4) and a rod (11) movable in axial direction inside a through-hole (10, 23a) of said sprinkler head which, when in communication with fire extinguishing fluid, can be moved forward or backward into a specific indicating position, or said checking means having the form of a valve (36) located in a through-hole (8, 10) which can be operated to trigger the dripping out of fire extinguishing fluid. The sprinkler system according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable rod (11) is spring-mounted on an elastic member (12) that acts in opposite direction to the pressure applied by the fire extinguishing fluid, the spring force of said elastic member (12) being smaller than said pressure so that said movable rod (11) protrudes from the lower opening of the through-hole (10, 23a) of said sprinkler head when in communication with fire extinguishing fluid. The sprinkler system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the pressure from the fire extinguishing fluid is transmitted to the end of said movable rod (11) that is in communication with said fluid by means of an elastic bellows (28) located inside said through-hole (8) in said plug (4). The sprinkler system according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic member (12) acts on said movable rod (11, 31) in the direction of the pressure applied by the fire extinguishing fluid so as to force said rod downwards to make it protrude when no fluid is present, and a passageway (32) extending axially from the piping side and in communication with a space (34) defined by a lateral periphery of said movable rod (11, 31) and an inner periphery (10) of said outwardly threaded portion (9) screwed into the through-hole (8) of said plug (4) is provided to retract said movable rod (11, 31) into the sprinkler head when the fire extinguishing fluid acts on said space (34) in the opposite direction of the action of the spring member (12) so that said movable rod (11) does no longer protrude from the lower side of said sprinkler head. The sprinkler system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said movable rod (11, 11a, 11b, 31) is located on the center axis of the respective sprinkler head. The sprinkler system according to claim 1, characterized in that said valve (36) is located inside the through-hole (8) of said plug (4), and that there is a connection between said through-hole (8) and the outlet port (5) of said sprinkler head for supplying fire extinguishing fluid by means of the force of an elastic member (12) acting in the direction of fluid flow and arranged so as to seal off the through-hole (8), and that this sealing position can be released against the action of said spring element (12) by a manually operable, movable rod (38, 40) located in the through-hole (23a) of said sprinkler head to allow small quantities of fluid to drip when said fluid is in communication with said outlet port (5), thus visually indicating the presence of fire extinguishing fluid. The sprinkler system according to claim 6, characterized in that the seat (36a) and body (36c) of said valve (36) are inserted in a through-hole (10) of an outwardly threaded portion (9) screwed into said through-hole (8) of said plug (4). The sprinkler system according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said valve (36) comprises a pin (36b) on its upper surface, said pin being guided in an upper section of said through-hole (8) of said plug (4) wherein the diameter of said upper section is smaller than that of the lower section of said through-hole (8). The sprinkler system according to claim 8, characterized in that, after operating said movable rod (38, 40) and overcoming the force of said spring element (12), the upper surface of said pin (36b) protrudes from the upper edge of said through-hole (8) of said plug (4). A method for checking the proper connection of sprinkler heads or distribution pipes and for locating interruptions in the piping of a sprinkler system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the change in position of a checking means having the form of a movable rod (11) and associated with each sprinkler head (27) is observed, or that a dripping test is carried out by operating a valve (36) using a movable rod (38, 40).

Inventors: HATTORI TAKAMASA, HATTORI, TAKAMASA
Applicants: HATTORI TAKAMASA, HATTORI, TAKAMASA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A62C37
IPC codes: A62C37