Automatic Sprinkler for Fire Extinguishers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Sprinkler for Fire Extinguishers.
1, CAMPBELL BEAUREGARD SHAW, Mechanical Engineer, of the City of St. Louis,
in the State of Missouri, one of the United States of North America, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for An Automatic Sprinkler for Fire Extin-
guishers, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an automatic sprinkler operated by the flexing of the
flexible wall of thermostatic chamber, and my invention consists in features of
novelty hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. I is a rear elevation, partly in section.
Fig. II illustrates a section taken on line II-II, Fig. III.
Fig. III is a side elevation with the thermostatic disk holding ring in section.
Fig. IV is a top or end view with the adjustable spray disk removed on
line IV-IV, Fig. I.
Fig. Villustrates a cross section, taken on line V-V Fig. III.
Fig. VI is a perspective of the valve retaining strut, and its locking device.
Fig. VII is an inner face view of the spray disk.
Fig. VIII is a detail view of a modified construction of the valve seating end
of the strut.
Fig. IX is a sectional view of a modified arrangement of the thermostat and its
connection with the strut.
Fig. X is a detail view illustrative of the employment of a fusible substance
forming the connection between the two sections of the strut.
In the drawings: 1 designates the nipple on which the sprinkler is carried.
These nipples are attached to the water supply pipe at suitable distances apart.
2 designates the valve that closes the orifice of said nipple. 3 designates a
frame carried by said nipple 1, the outer end of said frame being curved to extend
across the orifice of the nipple, but remote therefrom.
4 designates a spray disk mounted on a screw threaded stem 7 that fits in a
threaded bore in the outer curved end of the frame 3. The spray disk 4 is pro-
vided on its inner face with an outer circle of teeth 5 and an inner circle of
teeth 6, the teeth of oue circle being offset from the other for the purpose of
producing a more efficient spray.
8 designates a flanged ring attached to the nipple 1, and to the outer end of the
frame 3 by means of screws 9. In this ring is seated a thermostatic chamber 10
provided with an outer inflexible wall 11, and an inner flexible wall 12. This
chamber is designed to contain any highly expansive fluid such as alcohol or
ether, which, when heated, will expand within the chamber and cause the wall 12
to flex.
13 designates a flat spring provided with X forked ends that straddle the screws 9
connecting the ring 8 to the nipple 1 and frame 3. This spring is loosely seated
between the ring and the nipple and frame for the purpose of allowing it to play
endwise when the flexible wall of the thermostatic chamber presses its central
го
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page_text: portion outward in flexing. Between the wall 12 and spring 13 is a disk 14 that
forms the central bearing for the spring.
In the central portion of the spring 13 is a slot 15, arranged to receive one end
of the key 16. One or more shoulders 17 are formed on this key. A loop 18 that
spans the spring 13 engages the key through means of the shoulder, the purpose
of which will hereinafter appear in the reference to the operation of the device.
The outer end of the key 16 contains an opening 19, into which a tongue 20
projects.
that
21 designates a sectional strut composed of a valve contacting member 22 and
an interlocking member 23. The member 22 is provided with a point
engages in a recess in the outer face of the valve 2: and the main body of said
member is offset from its point and contains a groove 22b that receives the pronged
end 28" of the member 23. The opposite end of the member 23 is provided with a
point 23 that engages in a recess of the inner end of the spray disk stem 7.
The two members of the strut 21 lie side by side, and are normally connected
by the following means. The member 23 is provided with an opening that
receives a protuberance 24 on the member 22 in which is an opening 25 that
receives the tongue 20 of the key 16, thereby firmly locking the members together,
until such time as the flexible wall 12 of the thermostatic chamber 10 has been
flexed under the action of heat upon the expansible fluid within said chamber.
The operation of the sprinkler is as follows:
When the parts of the device have been placed together in the manner described,
the strut members being locked together hold the valve firmly to its seat on
tightening the screw stem 7 of the spray disk against the outer end of the
member 23. The parts normally remain in their set positions, but in the event
of a fire in the vicinity of the sprinkler, the heat causes the expansive fluid in the
thermostatic chamber to expand, flexing the wall 12 of said chamber, and forcing
the spring 13 outward. The wall and spring in their movement carry the key 16
with them, in which action the tongue 20 is carried out of engagement with the
opening 23 in the protuberance 24 on the strut member 22. The releasing of the
tongue 20 permits the members of the strut to fall apart under the action of
the pressure of the water pressing the valve 2 from its seat.
The seat of the inner end of the members 23 on the member 22 being offset from
the central line of the strut, the movement of the valve contacting point 22" of the
member 22 is, on the unseating of the valve, tripped to impart a swiveling action
to the said member 22; and the two members of the strut are thus more readily
separated than would be the case were the seating end of the outer member of the
strut seated in central line with relating to the end bearings of the strut.
To
On the separation of the strut 21 the key 16 remains in the slot 15 of the plate 13,
but the water in escaping from the nipple 1, striking the key, throws it out of the
slot in order to prevent its interference with the free distribution of the water.
cause the key to be more readily thrown from its seat, the loop 18 is employed
which loop forms a hinge or swivel at one edge of the key, on which the key
turns when struck by the water.
In Fig. VIII I have shown a modified construction of the valve 2 and the
strut. In this construction the outer face of the valve is provided with a point 2
and the valve contacting member 22 is formed to rest upon this point instead of
its being provided with a point to rest in a recess of the valve.
In Fig. IX I have shown another modification, in which the thermostatic
chamber is located above the spray disk, and the key 16 extends inward and
connects with the strut in substantially the same manner as in the main form.
In Fig. X I have illustrated the application of a solder or other fusible joint
between the strut members, for the purpose of showing that the strut might be
connected in this manner and be separated on the fusing of the solder, thereby
releasing the valve instead of employing a thermostatic chamber having a flexible
wall through means of which the members of the strut are held and released.

page_text: 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:-
1. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a sectional strut
arranged to hold said valve to its seat, a thermostatic chamber provided with a
flexible wall, and a connection between said flexible wall and strut, through means
of which the members of said strut are locked together and released by the flexing
of said wall in thermostatic action, substantially as set forth.
2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a sectional strut
arranged to bold said valve to its seat, a spray disk, a screw stem carried by said
disk and arranged to engage the outer end of said strut, a thermostatic chamber
provided with a flexible wall, and a connection between said flexible wall and
strut, through means of which the members of said strut are locked together and
released by the flexing of said wall in thermostatic action, substantially as set forth.
3. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a sectional strut
arranged to hold said valve to its seat, a thermostatic chamber provided with a
flexible wall, a key arranged to lock the members of said strut, together, said key
being so dispose as to be acted upon in the flexing of said wall, whereby it is
released from said strut, substantially as set forth.
4. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a sectional strut
arranged to hold said valve to its seat, a thermostatic chamber provided with a
flexible wall. a spring seated against said wall, a key forming a connection
between said wall and said strut arranged to lock the members of said strut
together, and a loop carried by said spring arranged to engage the edge of said
key, substantially as set forth."
5. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a strut arranged to
hold said valve to its seat, a thermostatic chamber provided with a flexible wall,
and a connection between said flexible wall and strut, through means of which
said strut is held and released by the flexing of said valve in thermostatic action,
substantially as set forth.
6th. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a valve, a strut arranged to
hold said valve to its seat, and a thermostatic chamber provided with a flexible
wall adapted to move said strut to release said valve on the flexing wall in
thermostatic action, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.