Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers.
I, JOSEPH MARSHALL of Ashdene House Hyde in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention relates to Automatic Sprinklers and it has for its object to secure
greater certainty and rapidity of action, and a more uniform and effective distribution
of the water.
I will describe these Improvements with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Fig. 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2 a vertical section with the levers
removed as when the apparatus is in action; Fig. 3 a plan looking from below ;
Fig. 4 a plan and Fig. 5 an elevation of the rotary head.
In each of the Figures where the parts are represented, A is a screwed barrel
having a nut B formed or secured thereon. Upon the lower end of the barrel A
there is screwed the body of the Sprinkler containing the valve D, the stem of
which passes through the bottom of the body C. Around the body C there is
mounted the rotary head E so as to be capable of free rotation thereon, and in the
walls of the body there are formed suitable ports opening into the cavity of the rotary
head. Below the body two pairs of parallel limbs F. G. are cast and these limbs
are connected by the pivots HI. In the slots or openings between the limbs F F G G
and resting upon the pivots H I are two levers J K of which J rests at one end on
the pivot H and K at one end on the pivot I. The upper lever K rests at its opposite.
end on the upper surface of the lever J and the other end of the lever J is norim illy
soldered by a fusible solder to an extension G' of one of the arms G. The outer
end of the lever J has preferably an upward extension through which a small hole
is formed in which is soldered the wire L bent once at a right angle. The function
of this wire is to lend to prevent the accidental displacement of the levers, but if
the solder is melted, it simply hangs in the hole and its connection with the levers.
being thus severed it will offer no obstacle to the release of the apparatus.
The levers JK instead of merely resting on the pivots H I as shown in the
drawings and hereinbefore described may have the pivots passing through holes
therein but it is preferred that they shall be constructed and arranged in
as described
since in this case, when the solder is melted, the levers full entirely away and do not
therefore impede the issue of water from the Sprinkler. The valve D is normally in
contact with its seating D' which is formed upon the bottom of the barrel A, thus
closing the inlet of water from the barrel to the rotary head E. In this position the
valve is supported by its stem resting upon the upper edge of the lever K.
The rotary head is protected from dust and injury by the hood or shield M (shewn
in dotted lines Fig. 2) which is constructed in halves and is held in position at the
top of the inverted cup under the nut and at the bottom by the Y-shaped yoke O.
The yoke O is slit at its upper ends and small snugs respectively formed one on each
contiguous half of the hood are slipped into each of the slits where they are held by
the natural spring of the metal.
In the rotary head E which is hollow and may have the form of a frustrum of a cone
as shewn or any other similar form, a convenient number of slits QQ are formed at
about a tangent to the bore of the head or at a similar angle to the radius, so that when
water under pressure issues therefrom, the head will rotate by reaction and uniformly
diffuse the water in the space to be protected.
In the event of a fire occurring or of a high temperature being developed in the
vicinity of the Sprinkler the solder connecting the lever J to the extension of the
arm G, melts; the lever thus losing its support drops away and releases the lever K

page_text: which also drops away, whereupon the valve D being now unsupported, falls into the
position shewn in Fig. 2 thus opening the water way to the rotary hoad E whence it
escapes through the slots QQ. As the yoke O passes under one or both levers J K it
also is carried away when the superior lever falls and the hood M is thus liberated and
falls or is carried away by the first outrush of water.
The apparatus is then in the condition represented in section by the full lines of
Fig. 2 and the water flowing freely through the rotary head is uniformly distributed
by its rotation above, below, and around the apparatus without leaving a dome of
unwetted space as is common with other sprinklers.
The Sprinkler may be secured in the usual manner to the under-side of an horizontal
service pipe.
After action, the apparatus may be readily put into a condition for future work by
replacing the hood yoke and levers and making the soldered connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
(1) An Automatic Sprinkler constructed arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) In an Automatic Sprinkler; the combination construction and arrangement of
the levers J K ; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
(3) In an Automatic Sprinkler; the combination construction and arrangement of
the levers JK, and the valve D and valve seating D₁; substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(4) In an Automatic Sprinkler; the combination construction and arrangement of
the levers JK, the valve D and its seating, a perforated part of the body surrounding
the valve, and a rotary head surrounding the perforated part of the body;
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
(5) In an Automatic Sprinkler; the combination arrangement and construction of
a perforated part in the body of the Sprinkler, a valve in the perforated part normally
held between the perforations and the source of water supply, and a rotary head
surrounding the perforated part of the body; substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(6) In an Automatic Sprinkler; a removable hood formed in halves for protecting
the rotary head, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinhefore described and
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November A.D. 1889.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.