Abstract:
An automatic sprinkler head is disclosed for the discharge of water for extinguishing a fire in which the delivery of water to and through the head is controlled by a fusible element to which heat is supplied by a plurality of vanes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an automatic sprinkler head. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various automatic sprinklers have heretofore been disclosed which are responsive to a fusible element, but none of these has proven wholly satisfactory. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An automatic sprinkler head is provided in which the discharge of the water to and through the head is controlled by a fusible element to which heat is supplied by a plurality of vanes. 
     It is the principal object of the invention to provide an automatic sprinkler head which is responsive to a fusible element. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic sprinkler head in which a better flow of liquid is attained when the sprinkler is in operation. 
     Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an automatic sprinkler in accordance with the invention in its normal position; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an automatic sprinkler head in accordance with the invention in the discharge position; 
     FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken approximately on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the sprinkler head 10, in accordance with the invention, has a body portion 10a provided with a threaded portion 11 for attachment to a supply line (not shown). A plate 12 is provided having a plurality of slotted openings 13. An outer housing 14 is provided with a rib 16 for engagement, with the lower portion of the threaded portion 11. The outer housing 14 has a cylindrical portion 17 which engages the flange 15 on body portion 10a. 
     Within the housing 14, a plurality of downwardly extending rod 18 are provided having springs 19 in engagement with their enlarged upper ends 20, with the interior of the housing 14, and secured at their lower ends to the plate 12. The rods 18 extend through the flange 15. 
     The body portion 10a has an interiorly tapered portion 22 with a cylindrical portion 23 therebelow, and within the interior of the body portion 10a an upper valve plug 24 is provided having a packing ring 25 in a groove 26. The upper valve plug 24 has a central opening 27 and a downwardly extending rim 28 with which also the cylindrical portion 23 is engaged. The lower part of the cylindrical portion 23 has a groove 29 for the reception of a plurality of locking balls 30. 
     The plate 12 has an internally threaded sleeve 31 secured thereto with which a lower externally threaded sleeve 32 is in engagement. 
     A plunger 33 is provided having an upper extension 34 extending within the opening 27 and has a central portion 35 with a tapered section 36 for retaining the balls 30 in the groove 29. The plunger 33 has a lower portion 37 slidable within an opening 38 in a cylindrical portion 39, which extends through a collar 40 and has a rim 41 which engages with a disk element 42. A rim 43 is carried by the lower externally threaded sleeve 32 and overlie element 42 . 
     The cylindrical portion 39 has a plurality of fins 44, 45 and 46 extending outwardly therefrom, the fin 44 being of lesser diameter than the fins 45 and 46, but the fins 45 and 46 increasing in diameter in an ascending order. Fusible element 52 is provided in the lower end of portion 39 and contacts the lower end of portion 37. 
     A hole 47 is provided in the ceiling 48, and a cover 49 is provided having a cylindrical portion 50 with an upwardly and outwardly extending portion 51 to cover and conceal the hole 47. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, upon melting of the fusible element 52, the plunger 33 drops and permits the balls 30 to move from the groove 29 and inwardly with respect to the plunger 33 and the upper valve plug 24, so that the upper valve plug 24, the plunger 33, and the cylindrical portion 39, with its fins 44, 45 and 46, move downwardly together with the plate 21, and the rods 18, urged initially by the springs 19.