Patent Publication Number: US-2023158518-A1

Title: Systems and methods of sprinkler deflector deployment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/045,306, filed Jun. 29, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Fire protection systems can use sprinklers to output fluids to address fire conditions. The sprinklers can be mounted in various locations in a building, and can be mounted in a concealed configuration. 
     SUMMARY 
     At least one aspect relates to a sprinkler. The sprinkler can include a connector, a body, at least one pin, and a deflector. The connector extends between an inlet end and an outlet end. The body includes a pin wall extending from the outlet end of the connector. The pin wall defines at least one pin receiver. The body wall extends from the pin wall. The pin wall and the body wall define a chamber. The at least one pin is fixed with the at least one pin receiver. The deflector is coupled with the at least one pin to move within the chamber along the at least one pin responsive to a trigger condition from an undeployed state to a deployed state. 
     At least one aspect relates to a sprinkler system. The sprinkler system can include one or more pipes coupled with a fluid supply and a sprinkler. The sprinkler includes a connector, a pin wall, at least one pin, and a deflector. The connector extends between an inlet end and an outlet end. The pin wall extends from the outlet end of the connector and defines at least one pin receiver. The at least one pin is fixed with the at least one pin receiver. The deflector is coupled with the at least one pin to move along the at least one pin responsive to a trigger condition from an undeployed state to a deployed state. 
     At least one aspect relates to a deflector assembly. The deflector assembly can include a plurality of pins that engage with a sprinkler and a deflector. The deflector includes a plurality of deflector arms that extend outward from a longitudinal axis. Each deflector arm of the plurality of deflector arms defines a receiver coupled with a respective pin of the plurality of pins. The plurality of deflector arms move along the plurality of pins and parallel with the longitudinal axis responsive to a trigger condition from an undeployed state to a deployed state. Each pin of the plurality of pins includes a flange to restrict movement of a respective deflector arm of the plurality of deflector arms beyond the deployed state. 
     These and other aspects and implementations are discussed in detail below. The foregoing information and the following detailed description include illustrative examples of various aspects and implementations, and provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and implementations. The drawings provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and implementations, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. For purposes of clarity, not every component can be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an example of a sprinkler system. 
         FIG.  2    is a section view of an example of a sprinkler of a sprinkler system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and implementations of sprinkler systems and methods. Fire sprinklers can be used to address fire conditions by outputting fire suppression agents, such as water or other fire suppression fluids, to address the fire. The fire sprinklers (or the fire suppression agent delivered to the fire sprinklers) can be controlled to selectively output fire suppression agents. The various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below can be implemented in any of numerous ways, including in sprinkler systems that implement concealed sprinklers (e.g., sprinklers installed in a manner that can reduce the physical extension and visibility of the sprinkler beyond the walls of the building) and non-concealed sprinklers. 
     Sprinklers can be installed by connecting the sprinklers with piping that is connected with a fluid supply. For example, in buildings, including residential buildings, sprinklers may be installed so that a body of the sprinkler is positioned in a particular location relative to a wall or ceiling. Locating the sprinkler properly during installation may be limited by factors such as the position of the piping relative to the wall or ceiling and a target location for a deflector of the sprinkler during operation. 
     Systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure can use a sprinkler that includes a deflector that moves along a plurality of pins in a body of the sprinkler from a first, undeployed position to a second, deployed position. This can enable a more flexible range of locations for aligning the sprinkler with the piping, including for concealed and non-concealed sprinkler implementations. For example, the relative positioning of the sprinkler and the deflector in the undeployed position can be varied, such as during installation of the sprinkler. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an example of a sprinkler system  100 . The sprinkler system  100  can be used in a variety of applications. The sprinkler system  100  can be used with a variety of fire suppressant agents, including but not limited to water (e.g., may use powders, liquids, foams, or other fluid or flowable materials). 
     The sprinkler system  100  can include a fluid supply  104  coupled with one or more sprinklers  108  using one or more pipes  112 . The fluid supply  112  can define an internal volume filled (e.g., partially filled, completely filled) with fire suppressant agent. The fluid supply  112  can provide fluid from a remote or local location to a building in which the fire suppression system  100  is located. The fluid supply may include, for example, a municipal water supply, pump, piping system, tank, cylinder, or any other source of water or fire suppression agent. The pipes  112  (e.g., one or more pipes, tubes, conduits) can be fluidly coupled with the one or more sprinklers  108 . 
     The sprinkler  108  can be actuated responsive to a fire condition, causing fluid to flow from the fluid supply  104  through the one or more pipes  112  and out of the sprinkler  108 . The pipes  112  can extend through a building into a space between walls of the building. The sprinklers  108  can be installed in various applications, including horizontal Msidewall, pendent, concealed, and non-concealed applications. The sprinklers  108  can be installed adjacent to sidewalls or ceilings of buildings, including in residential buildings. In various such applications, the sprinkler  108  can 
       FIG.  2    depicts an example of the sprinkler  108 . The sprinkler  108  includes a connector  204 . The connector  204  can be connected with the one or more pipes  112  to receive fluid from the fluid supply  104  as described with reference to  FIG.  1   . The connector  204  can include an engagement member  208 , such as threading, to connect with the one or more pipes  112  (or an adapter coupled with the one or more pipes  112 ). 
     The connector  204  can receive fluid through a channel  212  that extends from an inlet end  216  to an outlet end  220  along a longitudinal axis  202 . The sprinkler  108  can have a K-factor of 4.2 [gpm]/[psi] 1/2  (e.g., for residential applications). The sprinkler  108  can have a K-factor of 5.6 [gpm]/[psi] 1/2  (e.g., for commercial applications). 
     The sprinkler  108  includes a body  224  that extends from the outlet end  220  of the connector  204 . The body  224  can include a body wall  228  that defines a chamber  232  connected with the channel  212 . The chamber  232  can have a greater diameter than the channel  212 , such as to allow components such as deflector  248  to be received within the chamber  232  while allowing the connector  204  to be sized to connect with the pipes  112  (or an adapter coupled with the pipes  112 ). The body wall  228  can be spaced from and extend around the longitudinal axis  202 . The body  224  can include a pin wall  236  that extends between the connector  204  and the body wall  228 . The pin wall  236  can extend transverse (e.g. perpendicular to) the longitudinal axis  202  and can intersect the longitudinal axis  202 . 
     The pin wall  236  can define at least one pin receiver  240 . The pin receivers  240  can be defined outward from the connector  204  relative to the longitudinal axis  202 . For example, the pin receivers  240  can be between the connector  204  and the body wall  228 . 
     The pin receivers  240  can receive and be coupled with (e.g., fixed with) at least one corresponding pin  244 . The pins  244  can be fixed to the pin wall  236 , and can include flanges  250  to prevent movement of the pins  244  relative to the pin wall  236 . For example, the flanges  250  can have a greater width than the pin receivers  240  in a direction in which the flanges  250  extend transverse to the longitudinal axis  202  to prevent movement of the pins  244  along the longitudinal axis  202 . The flanges  250  can have a greater width than at least a portion of the pins  244  adjacent to the flanges  250 , allowing the portion of the pins  244  to translate relative to the pin receivers  240  up to contact between the flanges  250  and the pin wall  236 . The flanges  250  can be outside the chamber  232  (e.g., while the pins  244  are received in the pin receivers  240 ). The pins  244  can be fixed (e.g., riveted) to the pin wall  236 . 
     The pins  244  can have a greater length (e.g., in a direction along the longitudinal axis  202 ) relative to a width or diameter (e.g., in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis). The pins  244  can be cylindrical. 
     The sprinkler  108  includes a deflector  248 . The deflector  248  can receive fluid from the channel  212  and output the fluid according to a target spray pattern. The target spray pattern can correspond with an application of the sprinkler  108 , such as an orientation of the sprinkler  108  relative to a room in which the sprinkler  108  is located, or a shape of the room. The target spray pattern can correspond with structural features of the deflector  248  as described herein. The deflector  248  can include various tines, edges, openings, angled members, or other features to cause the fluid to be outputted with the target spray pattern as the fluid comes into contact with the deflector  248 . 
     The deflector  248  can move along the pins  244 , such as to move from an undeployed state to a deployed state (depicted in  FIG.  2   ). The deflector  248  can be slidingly coupled with the pins  244 . The undeployed state can be a state in which at least a portion of the deflector  248  is relatively closer to the pin wall  236  than in the deployed state, such as if the deflector  248  is received within the chamber  232  to an extent that the deflector  248  does not extend beyond an end wall  252  of the body  224 , which can facilitate a minimal form factor for the sprinkler  108 . The end wall  252  can form an edge of the body wall  228 . A majority (e.g., at least fifty percent; at least eighty percent) of the length of the pins  244  can be in the chamber  232  while the deflector  248  is in each of the undeployed state and the deployed state. 
     The undeployed state can correspond to various positions along the longitudinal axis  202  to allow for flexible installation of the sprinkler  108 . For example, the sprinkler  108  can be more flexibly installed by allowing the relative distance between the deflector  248  and the end wall  252  (or pin wall  236 ) to be adjusted during installation, such as to allow the sprinkler  108  to be sufficiently recessed into a ceiling or wall while positioning the deflector  248  in a target position for undeployed state. 
     The deflector  248  can include at least one deflector arm  256 . The deflector arms  256  can extend outward relative to the longitudinal axis  202  (e.g., when the deflector  248  is coupled with the pins  244 ). The deflector arms  256  can be symmetrical about the longitudinal axis  202 . The at least one deflector arm  256  can include one deflector arm  256  for each pin  244 . 
     The deflector arm  256  can include a receiver  260  (e.g., sleeve) sized to receive the pin  244  (e.g., rather than riveting the pins  244  to the deflector arms  256 ). The receivers  260  can allow the deflector  248  to move along the pins  244 , such as to move between the undeployed state and the deployed state. The receivers  260  can have an inner diameter greater than a minimum outer diameter of the pins  244  to allow the deflector arms  256  to slide along the pins  244 . 
     At least one of the length (e.g. receiver length  262  discussed below), inner diameter, and surface area of the receivers  260  and a respective at least one of the minimum outer diameter and surface area of the pins  244  can be within a threshold difference of one another to form a frictional engagement between the pins  244  and receivers  260  having a force that is greater than a first force threshold to prevent inadvertent movement of the deflector  248  relative to the pins  244  (e.g., so that the weight of the deflector  248  while the longitudinal axis  202  is aligned with a direction of gravity is not sufficient to cause the deflector  248  to slide along the pins  244 ) and less than a second force threshold to allow for the deflector  248  to be moved along the pins  244  by hand (e.g., when installing the sprinkler  108 ) (and also less than a third force threshold that is greater than the second force threshold, the third force threshold corresponding to a force applied by fluid outputted through the channel  216  against the deflector  248  responsive to the seal breaking). 
     Ends of the pins  244  opposite the flanges  250  can have a relatively greater diameter to define a maximum linear motion of the deflector  248  (e.g., prevent the deflector from moving off the pins  244 ). The receivers  260  can define a receiver length  262  along which the pins  244  are received. The receiver length  262  (e.g., along with diameters as described above) can be sized to enable a smooth transition between the undeployed and deployed states, such as to reduce frictional binding between the receivers  260  and the pins  244  that would otherwise cause the force of the frictional engagement to be greater than the third threshold. For example, the receiver length  262  can be greater than the diameter of the receiver  260 . A ratio of the receiver length  262  to the diameter of the receiver  260  can be greater than 1 and less than 2. 
     The deflector  248  can move along the pins  244  from the undeployed state to the deployed state responsive to a trigger condition. The trigger condition can be associated with a fire condition. For example, the sprinkler  108  can include a thermally responsive trigger (not shown), such as a fusible link or a glass bulb that breaks responsive to a temperature around the thermally responsive trigger being greater than a threshold temperature indicative of the fire condition. Responsive to breaking, the thermally responsive trigger can release the deflector  248 , such as by releasing a seal coupled with at least one of the chamber  232  and the deflector  248 , allowing the deflector  248  to move along the pins  244  from the undeployed state to the deployed state (e.g., responsive to fluid driving the deflector  248 ). For example, pressure from fluid in the channel  212  (which was previously sealed) can drive the deflector  248  to the deployed state. 
     By allowing the deflector  248  to move along the pins  244 , the sprinkler  108  can be installed with greater flexibility. For example, the position of the sprinkler  108  along the longitudinal axis  202  relative to the pipes  112  and other structures (e.g., walls) that the sprinkler  108  is coupled with or positioned nearby can be adjusted based on where the deflector  248  is positioned along the pins  244  in the undeployed state, such as to allow the sprinkler  108  to be concealed (e.g., behind a cover) or otherwise retracted when installed, yet still able to move to an appropriate position in the deployed state in order to achieve the target spray pattern during operation. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the deflector  248  can include a plate  264  and a plurality of tines  268 , such as for a horizontal sidewall application. In various applications, the deflector  248  can include various such structures. The plate  264  and tines  268  can deflect the fluid received through channel  212  according to the target spray pattern. 
     The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown in the various embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to include any given ranges or numbers+/−10%. These terms include insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims. 
     It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). 
     The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic. 
     The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X, Y, Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated. 
     References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. 
     Although the figures show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps.