Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Extinguishing and other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Extinguishing and other Purposes.
1, LAWSON BUCKMINSTER STONE, Engineer, of Marblehead, County of Essex, State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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," so called, for fire or other
purposes, the essential features of which consist in combination with a suitable liquid
supply pipe, and valve leading therefrom, of a hollow closed vessel, adapted to contain
some volatile fluid or gas. The valve controlling the fluid supply is directly united
with and operated by said hollow closed vessel, being opened by the internal pressure
due to expansion of the volatile fluid occasioned by thermostatic increase of tempc-
rature, while it is normally kept closed by vacuum pressure, consequent upon removal
or cessation of the actuating cause-that is, undue or excessive temperature of the air
surrounding it. Thus the sprinkler is entirely automatic.
One important feature consists in the arrangement of the sprinkler above the fluid-
supply pipe, thus the valve, united by its stem with the expansive vessel is operated
against gravity and closed by the pressure due to the vacuum in said vessel, when the
latter is in an inactive condition.
A second feature is embodied in the combination with the expansive vessel of a
distributor, formed of two deflector-plates one of which is fixed and stationary upon
the frame, which forms the sprinkler, while the other is movable with and secured to
the valve-stem. The direction form and distribution of the liquid, as it is ejected from
the supply pipe can be adjusted by the difference in size of the two plates and further
by changing their shape and flexibility, since they may be corrugated or beni to
disperse in a greater degree the liquid.

page_text: A third and prominent feature is in the location of the expansive vessel above the
movable deflector plate to prevent the fluid from reducing the temperature too suddenly,
and close the valve before the proper time, while to prevent further loss of heat by
connection through the valve-stein, the latter is separated from the expansive vessel by
some suitable non-conductor.
Fourthly and lastly a regulator is attached by means of two nuts adjustable above
the upper side of the expansive vessel, thus by raising up or increasing the distance of
the vessel from the valve-seat the yielding sides are not permitted to fully close;
hence the vacuum pressure, to hold the valve closed, may be increased and a greater
thermal temperature will be required to open said valve; converse movement, or
lowering of the expansive vessel will permit said vessel to operate instantly upon the
least rise in the temperature; hence it will be seen that the sprinkler can be actively
operated at different degrees of temperature according to the circumstances or locality
in which it is to be placed.
The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Fig. 1 a central vertical
sectional elevation of an automatic sprinkler embodying my invention in an inactive
state with the valve closed. Fig. 2 represents a similar view with the apparatus in an
active condition with the valve open. Fig. 3 is a plan from above, Fig. 4 is a plan
looking from beneath and which shows the lower reflector plate:
In the drawings A represents a supply pipe leading from any suitable reservoir from
which a continuous supply of liquid under pressure can be obtained. This pipe may
be arranged within a room and provided with a series of sprinklers after the manner
now most generally approved. This automatic sprinkler is composed primarily of an
open frame B, having two sets of radial arms a a, b, arranged one above the other
and united by vertically disposed pieces.c.c.. This frame contains the operative parts
of the apparatus and is removably secured to the supply pipe by a nipple, or screw-
threaded pipe C, which if desired may form an integral part of the frame B.
The lower end of this pipe forms a seat for the valve D, to which is attached the
valve-stem d. The latter extends through the bore of the nipple C, projects beyond
a short distance and is operated by the yielding sides of the expansive vessel E. This
latter is the active agent-through change in the temperature surrounding it-by
means of which the supply valve is rendered active and open or inactive and closed,
dependent upon circumstances, and is composed preferably of two circular flexible
disks ef, oppositely bent and united to form a hollow closed vessel, which, when
completed, is to contain some volatile fluid or gas.
i
In the present instance this vessel is secured within the frame B, and centrally
provided with two oppositely disposed screw-threaded rods gh; the latter and upper
one plays loosely through the frame B, and is further provided with two adjustable
nuts to be more fully hereinafter described. The lower rod enters the top of a
cylindrical wooden block 1 or other suitable non-conductor of heat. Axially aligned
with said rods g h and firmly secured to the lower extremity of said block is the valve-
stem d.
Thus when the expansive vessel is in position, it is retained within the frame B,
being supported above by means of the rod h, and below by the valve within the
nipple C. As before premisel, the disks ef are flexible and yielding and so united
as to have resilient action simultaneously; hence a pop action is insured and the valve
is thrown its full extent of movement at one impulse. Such impulses are due either
to expansion of the fluid within the vessel E, arising from the application of heat, or
from vacuum pressure induced by the cessation of such disturbing cause.
To efficiently disperse and spray the liquid emerging from the nipple C, when the
valve is open, I have arranged a compound distributor, which is composed of a deflector-
plate F, and reflector-plate G. Both said plates are circular in general form, while the
latter is preferably secured upon the nipple C beneath the lower radial arms b, b, of
the frame B and consists of a flat circular disk; the deflector-plate F serves two
purposes the primary object being to scatter and properly distribute the water in the
vicinity of the sprinkler. To this end I have made it a hollow, cone-shaped cup which

page_text: is centrally bored and secured upon the block of wood I in an inverted position; this
sloping surface, in lieu of being plane, is composed of a series of annular, but smaller
plane surfaces, angularly disposed with respect to each other in order to scatter and
distribute the water. Within this cone-shaped deflector is located the expansive
vessel E, and since it has no metallic connection with the deflector plate F, against
which the fluid strikes, serves a further purpose, it prevents too sudden cooling of the
vessel, which would cause the valve D to close before its proper time. Furthermore
by being concealed within this cup shaped deflector F, it is effectually protected from
water, while it is exposed on all sides to the influence of the surrounding atmosphere,
the thermal temperature of which is the active prime agent.
It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the rod by means of the nuts ij
may be increased or diminished in length, which in fact produces the same result, as
is effected by making one side of the expansive vessel rigid and then altering the length
of the valve-stem. My object being to cause the sprinkler to operate at different
degrees of temperature, while preserving the same volatile fluid within the closed
vessel, in lieu of varying said fluid, as has hitherto been practised.
By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the valve D, when it rests upon its seat,
is always predetermined in its position, hence if the nut is screwed down upon the
aod against the frame B, the yielding sides e fare forcibly drawn and maintained
apari against the vacuum pressure; hence it is obvious that greater expansion of the
fluid will occur, and consequently a higher degree of temperature is needed to open
said valve. On the other hand, if the converse effect is desired, or the valve is to be
operated upon a very small increase of heat above the normal, the nut j is raised and
the yielding sides are permitted to approach more closely, when the least volatilization
of the fluid will cause them to operate. The nut is adjusted to conform with the
movement of its cooperating nut and the position of said nuts limits the amount or
travel of the valve in the act of being opened.
i
Premising that the apparatus is now inactive with the valve closed and the parts in
their relative positions, as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, its operation is as
follows: When a sufficient increase in the temperature above the normal has sufficed
to expand the volatile fluid or gas in the vessel I, the latter is actively operated with
the result to actuate both the disks ef. The latter by a sudden resilient, or pop
action move outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. The nut upon the rod now
resists the action of the disk e, which is checked by means of the frame B, while the
lower disk, impels the valve D to move from its seat and permits the fluid supply to
escape. Simultaneously with the movement of the valve, the deflector-plate is carried
in the same direction and caused to approach the orifice or mouth of the nipple C;
thus the water, emerging from the latter, and which is supplied by the pipe A is more
effectually distributed. This activity of the sprinkler now continues, so long as the
thermostatic influences are such, as to maintain the vessel E in an expanded state.
When such cause, from the effects of the water distributed, ceases, the vacuum then
produced within said vessel then operates. the yielding disks e and they retroact
and assume the positions shown in Fig. 1, the nut acting on the fulcrum for the
valve.
As will be seen from the form of the deflector plate F the liquid will be thrown
outwardly and downwardly to meet the reflector plate G, thus the liquid is effectually
broken up and distributed in the form of spray in every direction.
There are several important advantages secured in a sprinkler of the construction,
as above described; firstly, the action of the sprinkler may be regulated for different
temperatures by simply adjusting the nuts ij, but without varying the liquid within
the expansive vessel; secondly, the expansive vessel is completely protected and too
sudden cooling is prevented thereby, as well as by the employment of the wooden
block, or any good non-conductor of heat; thirdly--there is no stuffing-box, or packing
gland in which the valve stem is apt to stick, unless frequently operated, as the valve
itself prevents any escape of fluid from the pipe A fourthly, the employment of a
distributor, composed of two plates, a deflector-plate movable with the valve and

page_text: valve-stem and the fixed reflector-plate, whereby proper distribution of the fluid supply
is effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1st. In an automatic sprinkler, adapted to be mounted above the fluid-supply pipe,
the expansive closed vessel, constructed with two oppositely disposed but yielding
sides, said sides being curved and furnished with screw-threaded rods, centrally
attached thereto and cooperating with a valve and valve-stem, which are actuated
automatically for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In combination with a supply pipe A, the expansive vessel E, adjustably
secured to the frame B and adapted to actuate the valve D and valve-stem d, the
latter united to said vessel E by means of a block 1, of non-conducting material as
described.
3rd. The combination with a pipe A, supply-valve D its valve-stem and the yielding
sides ef forming an expansive vessel E to which is affixed the rod h, of the frame B
and the nuts ij, cooperating therewith to regulate the thermal activity of the sprinkler,
substantially as herein stated.
4th. A sprinkler, adapted to be placed above the fluid supply pipo and composed of
an expansive vessel formed with two freely operating yielding sides, which control the
supply valve and hold the said valve to its seat by vacuum pressure in the expansive
closed vessel.
5th. In combination with a supply pipe A, fraine B and nipple C, the expansive
vessel E with the rod and adjusting nuts acting upon one side and the valve D
and valve-stem d upon the other to control the fluid supply, as herein described.
6th. In an automatic sprinkler the combination with an expansive vessel, which
controls the supply valve, of the two cooperating deflector plates, one stationary flat
disk, the other an inverted hollow cone moving with and carried by said vessel which
latter it surrounds, substantially as herein stated.
7th. In general combination, the expansive vessel E, hollow cone deflector F affixed
to said vessel by means of the rod y and block I, the rod with its adjusting nuts ij
cooperating with the frame B, the valve D with its valve-stem d, also secured in the
block I and the nipple Casting as the valve seat and provided with the reflector-plate G,
all substantially as described.
LAWSON BUCKMINSTER STONE,
Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
LAWSON BUCKMINSTER STONE,
Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.