Improvements in Sprinklers for Extinguishing Fire.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sprinklers for Extinguishing Fire.
A communication from abroad by THOMAS GEORGE TURNER, of No. 134, West
14th Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Inventor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 that class of fire extinguishers known as automatic
sprinkler heads, and the improvement consists in new and improved devices for
sustaining the valve of the sprinkler in position against the water pressure, while
providing for the expansion or contraction of the metal of the valve and sprinkler
head (so that it will be tight at all times), and, at the same time, insuring a
positive and free opening of the valve when the temperature of the air surrounding
the sprinkler head is high enough to melt the solder holding the fastenings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows a side view of the sprinkler head;
Figure 2, an edge view thereof, showing the manner of sustaining the valve in
place;
Figure 3, a vertical section of the sprinkler head, showing nut, screw, and side
bars for sustaining the valve;
Figure 4, a sprinkler head designed for use on the top of the water pipes, and
Figure 5, a modified form of sustaining bar.
Like numbers and figures denote similar parts in the several figures.
It has been Mr. Turner's desire in designing this sprinkler head to overcome
three well known difficulties in this class of fire extinguishers, viz., first, certain
opening at the time desired, second, a tight valve at all times under variable tem-
perature causing contraction and expansion of the metal, and third, an adjustable
sustaining device for the valve of ample strength to sustain any possible pressure
of water that may be brought upon the valve.
In the design shown all the good qualities sought are attained, as in practice the
valve is tight, the tension elastic, and the opening sure.
Referring to the drawings, a is the body of the head which is designed to be
screwed into the pipe system, B the valve for closing the opening in the body_a, and
Ca spring nut having a screw D, passing through it to sustain the valve B.
E E are two side bars attached to the ends of a spring nut, C, and provided at
their upper ends with projections F F which engage with the studs G G, projecting
from the head a, thus sustaining the thrust of the screw D. The projections F Fare
peculiar in construction and will sustain the valve against a powerful pressure. They
consist of bent pieces of metal H H, one end of which passes through from side to side
of the bars E E, and projects far enough to form hooks which are designed to pass
over the studs G G, that are formed with knife edges on the upper side, as shown.
The other ends of these bent metal pieces H H are in contact with the ends of the
bars E E and extend parallel thereto, being held in that position by a solder which
fuses at a lower temperature. The length of the pieces of metal from the point
where they pass through bar E to the point where they are soldered to the upper
ends of the bars E E, will determine the leverage exerted against the thrust of the
screw D. Sometimes it is found inconvenient to have the bars E E project any

page_text: considerable distance above the studs G G. In such cases the leverage is com-
pounded by soldering a second piece of metal, H', to the reverse side of each of
the bars E, and, projecting it above and over the end of such bar, providing its
overturned portion with an orifice through which is passed the upper end of the
metal piece H, thereby holding such piece from moving outward under strain of
screw D, see Figure 5.
By this method of sustaining the valve is attained first, certain action in case of
fire, the melting of the solder freeing the bent metal strips forming the projections from
the bars E E and permitting of the sustaining device falling apart, under the action
of gravity supplemented by any pressure on the valve, and second, tightness of the
joint between the valve and its seat, which, once made tight, will remain so, since
any expansion or contraction will be taken up by the spring forming the nut C,
that sustains the screw D, and by the use of such screw, the pressure on the
valve B can be adjusted at any time, and it is possible to open and close the valve
when desired for inspection and other purposes, and meet any variation in the
water pressure in the pipes at will.
Figure 4 shows one form of sprinkler head designed to be placed on top of the
pipes, embodying all of the features of Mr. Turner's improvement, but differing in
the one point that side bars E E are attached to studs G G, and the bent metal
strips H H engage with spring nut C, so that the solder will remain above the water
opening as in other construction.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that a sprinkler head is produced which is
simple in construction, effective in operation and does not involve the use of
any journal, pivot, or hinge whereby to arrest the action of the valve when the
solder melts.
While in the above the best means contemplated for carrying the invention into
usc has been described it must be distinctly understood that the invention is not
limited strictly thereto, as it is obvious that the same may be modified in various
ways without departing from the spirit thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a valve and side bars
for supporting the same of a metal strip passing through each of said bars to form
a hook or projection and being soldered thereto knife edged studs over which
said hooks or projections are placed, a nut and a tightening screw, substantially as
described.
2. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a valve and a supporting
bar, of a metal strip, one end of which passes through such supporting bar to form
a hook or projection while the other end is soldered thereto, and a knife edged stud
over which said hook is placed, substantially as described.
3. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a valve, and side bars
for supporting the same, having hooks or projections soldered thereto, of studs over
which said hooks or projections are placed, and devices for forcing the valve against
its seat, substantially as described.
4. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a valve, and side bars
for supporting the same having a hook or projection soldered to cach, of supports
over which said hooks or projections are placed, a nut and a tightening screw,
substantially as described.
5. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a valve B, and side
bars E E, of metal strips H H, soldered at one end to said bars and projecting
through them at the other, forming hooks or projections FF, studs G G, over which
such hooks or projections are placed, nut C, and tightening screw D, substantially
as described.
6. In an automatic sprinkler head, the combination with a body a, valve B, and

page_text: side bars E E, of metal strips H H soldered at one end to said bars and projecting
through them at the other forming hooks or projections F F, studs G G, over
which such hooks or projections are placed, nut C, and tightening screw D, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of Tul- 1901
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Agents for the Applicant.