Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-extinguishing Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-extinguishing
Apparatus.
I, AUGUSTUS FRederick Nagle, of 495, Fullerton Avenue, City of Chicago,
County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Constructing 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:-
In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, as usually organized and arranged,.
service pipes are distributed throughout a building and in the rooms thereof and
are provided at their extremities with sprinklers, sometimes called "sprinkler heads,"
which are closed by a suitable valve normally retained upon its seat, but automatically
released in case of fire when a certain degree of heat is reached and thus permitting
the discharge of water, under pressure, in the pipes, through the sprinkler heads
into the building or any particular room thereof where the fire occurs.
My present invention relates to this automatic sprinkler or sprinkler head, which is
secured to the extremities of the service pipes; and it consists in an arrangement of
the closing cap within the head and with its seat inside thereof and sealed in a
particular way and certain devices in connection with such a cap which, when released
by heat in case of a fire, will operate to forcibly and automatically raise the cap from
its seat, so that water is at once discharged through the sprinklers.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sprinkler partly in section, which embodies
my improvements.
Figure 2, a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 1, 1 of Figure 3.
Figure 3, a sectional plan of the same, taken on the line 2, 2, of Figure 2.
Figure 4, a similar section, taken on the line 3, 3, of Figure 2, and
Figure 5, a detail perspective showing a part of the case and the device whereby
the actuating spring is held in coiled or strained position, this Figure being on an
enlarged scale.
In the drawing I have shown only a sprinkler head and details of its construction.
The general mode of arranging the service pipes throughont a building, in an
automatic fire extinguishing apparatus is well known and will be understood without
description or illustration in the present instance. The sprinkler or sprinkler head,
constructed and prepared as shown in the drawings and as will be described presently,
is ready for attachment to the extremities of the distributing pipes.
In the drawings A, represents the nozzle of the sprinkler, which, at its outer end,
is provided with a horizontal flange a, and the stem of which a¹, is threaded, whereby
the sprinkler is adapted to be secured to the distributing pipes by screwing this
threaded stem into the ends of the pipes, which are correspondingly threaded
internally for this purpose. The inner end of the stem is preferably recessed slightly,
as seen at a², this being for the purpose of providing a firm seat for a closing cap B,
which is nicely fitted to this seat on the inner end of the nozzle stem. The cap B, as
shown in the drawings, is about hemispherical in form, which is a very good shape,
but is not absolutely essential and it is attached to a stem b, which passes outward
through the nozzle and is the device whereby the cap is moved in the interior of the
nozzle and pipe, when the sprinkler is screwed to the latter, this stem operating as a
kind of plunger, as will be hereinafter described. In Figure 2 of the drawings, the
cap is shown properly seated on the inner end of the stem of the nozzle and when
in this position, forms a stopper to the outlet; but, in order to make the joint
between the cap and its seat perfectly air and water tight, it is sealed or cemented by
asphaltum, or any other similar material, which will make a perfectly tight joint and
at the same time may be broken with comparative ease. The ordinary pipe-pressure,

page_text: whether of air or water, will, of course, be exerted upon the inside of the cap, thus
operating to hold it in place upon its seat, in connection with the sealing.
The cap is automatically lifted from its seat by forcing the stem inward, thus breaking
the seal and driving the cap inward against the pipe pressure, this movement of the
stem being accomplished by any suitable exterior devices, which are released and set
in operation by more than ordinary. heat.
The devices shown in the drawings for effecting this movement of the cap stem, I
will now describe.
A circular case C, is mounted on the flange a of the nozzle by means of short
posts D, the case being arranged a little distance immediately in front of the nozzle.
As shown in the drawings this case is made in two parts, a bottom or inner portion c
and a top or cover c¹, both having vertical flanges, one of which fits within the other,
as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, in which the flange of the cover is fitted
within the flange of the bottom or base and the two are fastened together by means
of small screws c², or any other suitable device. This case is preferably convex on
each face and it serves as a distributor, as the water discharged from the nozzle will
be driven directly against the bottom of the case. In the bottom or inside section c,
there is a central angular opening c³, through which the stem 6 of the cap passes,
this stem being provided at this point with an angular section b', corresponding in
shape to the said opening, so that the stem may be moved back and forth through the
bottom of the case, but cannot turn therein. The cap stem passes into the case and
at its extremity, inside of the case, is provided with a threaded section 62. A nut, E,
is fitted to turn upon this threaded end of the cap stem band is provided with two or
more radial arms or projections e, extending outward nearly to the wall of the case.
In the side of the case, and near the top thereof, several short slots c, are cut, which
correspond in number and relative arrangement to the arms on the nut. A spring F,
something like a clock-spring, is arranged within the case and inside or below the
projections on the nut. The inner end of the spring is fastened to the nut and the
outer end to the inside of the case, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. Now, by
turning the nut in the proper direction, it is evident that the spring will be coiled
around it and when so coiled it will, if released, operate to rotate the nut, thereby
causing it to turn on the threaded end of the stem and so drive the latter inward, as
the stem is prevented from rotating with the nut, as already described; the opening in
the nut must, of course, be large enough to turn freely around the angular section
of the stem. When the nut is in proper position within the case, as seen in Figure 2
of the drawings, and the spring is released, as mentioned above, the rotation of the
nut and the strength of the spring will be sufficient to drive the stem inward and
lift the cap from its seat, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.
But it is obvious that the sprinklers must be applied to the pipes with the springs
wound up and fastened by some device which will be released by the action of heat,
so. that the spring will at once act to open the nozzle of the sprinklers for the discharge
of water. To provide for this automatic action, stop pins G, are made of the form
shown in Figure 5 of the drawings being straight with the exception of a hook or
turn g at one end. These pins are in the side slots c* of the case and are long enough
to reach inward a little beyond the ends of the radial arms on the nut, so as to stand
in front of said arms and act as stops against the movement of the latter, when
the pins are fastened in place. The fastening of the pins is accomplished by soldering
their outer bent ends to a suitable support, which, as shown in the drawings, consists
of a small bracket H, having a base h, by which it is attached to the outside of the
case, and a vertical arm h¹, extending outward from the base and bent over at its
extremity to correspond to the hook on the stop pins. The bent end of the stop pins
is hooked over the bent end of the brackets, as seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, and
is fastened in this position by soldering and as solder melts at a low temperature, the
pins will shortly be loosened when a fire occurs in a room or building provided with
these sprinklers, thereby releasing the spring and raising the cap to open the nozzle,
as already described.
In preparing these sprinklers for attachment and mounting, the spring is wound

page_text: up and the stop pins inserted and secured, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings,
before the top, or outer portion of the case is put in position and the cap stem is
passed through the nozzle from the rear and the cap properly seated. The nut is
then turned on the threaded extremity of the cap stem, the case top turning with it,
until the two parts of the case are brought together in proper position, when they are
fastened together; the sealing of the cap may be done either before the nut is turned
on the stem or afterward, preferably the latter, as there is less danger of disturbing it
then. The parts are then all properly mounted in the position shown in Figure 2 of
the drawings, and when the pipes are also properly arranged in the building, they
are provided with sprinklers by simply screwing the threaded stems of the latter into
the extremities of the former. In case of fire the solder which holds the stop pins,
is soon melted thereby releasing the nut which under the face of the spring is then
turned in the proper direction to drive the stem inward and force the cap from its
seat, when there will be an immediate discharge of water into the room.
If desired, the entire case, which encloses the nut and spring may be covered with
parafine, shellac or any suitable paint or varnish, which will make it practically air
and water tight, thus preventing corrosion of any of the parts within the case.
In the sprinkler constructed as described above, there are several important
advantages obtained. The sealing of the cap is of special advantage, for with this
improvement no spring or any other device is required back of the cap to assist in
holding it to its seat for it is securely held in position by the fluid pressure in the
pipes and the sealing material.
Furthermore, it is not necessary to make such a careful fitting between the cap
and its seat as is usual, for the reason that the sealing material perfectly closes the
joint and makes it absolutely fluid tight, even though the fitting of the two metallic
parts may be somewhat imperfect. When force is applied from without the seal will
be broken away at once and not gradually, as in the old device of soldering the caps.
There is no strain upon the cap which would tend to break the joint and the sealing
is not affected by corrosion, or any other action of either air or water, so that the cap
remains perfectly closed for any length of time. It will be seen that the cap is held
upon its seat by pipe-pressure and a fragile seal and is opened by a screw, whose nut
is rotated by a long coiled clock spring when several soldered stops, which tem-
porarily prevent the nut from rotating, are released by the action of heat. Some
advantages resulting from these features of construction, are as follows.
Great sensitiveness is secured by using a small amount of solder at each of the
small stop pins.
Great strength is obtained by dispensing with the necessity of a solder joint strong
enough to withstand the concussion of water-hammer and by substituting a slight
force moving through a great distance for unseating the cap, instead of a great force
acting through a short distance, as is usually the case, so that a small weak solder
joint will be sufficient.
An accidental opening occasioned by defect in the solder joint is prevented by
having multiple joints, each of which is sufficient to resist the small strain brought
upon it by the spring.
Excessive strain caused by the screw, used in many instances to close sprinklers is
avoided by entirely dispensing with such forcing or holding screw in the present
construction.
Leakages are prevented by closing the cap by the internal pressure of the fluid in
the pipes and by the sealing of the cap.
It is impossible for the nozzle of the sprinkler to be opened until the stop pins are
entirely released and broken away, so that escaping water cannot strike a partially
released joint, thereby cooling the solder and preventing the complete opening of
the sprinkler.
The sprinkler can be taken apart and examined and put together again without
breaking the solder joints.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the actual details of construction
in all respects as shown in the drawings and as above described. The devices may be

page_text: modified and, so far as opening the sprinkler is concerned the cap may be raised by
entirely different devices, provided only they are automatic in action and are released
so as to be set in operation by heat.
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 :-
First In automatic sprinklers for fire extinguishers an internally seated cap
arranged within the nozzle or pipe so as to he opened inward, and sealed upon its
seat with asphaltum or other like material, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Second In automatic sprinklers for fire extinguishers the nozzle by which it is
attached to the pipes, in combination with a cap seated at the inner end of the nozzle
within the pipes and sealed upon its seat by asphaltum or other similar material and
an automatic device for breaking the seal and forcing the cap inward, adapted to
be released and set in operation by heat substantially as, and for the purposes
specified.
Third In automatic sprinklers for fire extinguishers, a nozzle, in combination with
an internally seated cap arranged within the nozzle or pipe and opening inward, a
reciprocating cap stem, provided with a threaded section, and an automatically
actuated nut fitted thereto, whereby when the latter is released and permitted to
rotate, the stem is driven inward towards the cap to open it, substantially as and
for the purposes, specified.
Fourth In automatic sprinklers for fire extinguishers, a nozzle, in combination
with a cap internally seated therein so that the pipe pressure operates to hold it
to its seat, a reciprocating cap stem having an angular section mounted in a corre-
sponding angular bearing and provided at its end with a threaded section, a rotating
nut applied to the threaded portion of the stem, a spring applied to the nut to rotate
the latter, and a fusible fastening which holds the nut against the action of the spring
when wound up substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Fifth-In automatic sprinklers for fire extinguishers the nozzle A in combination
with the cap B, internally seated within the nozzle, so that the pipe pressure will
operate to close it, the reciprocating cap stem 6 provided with an angular bearing
section 6', and a threaded section 62, the rotary nut E fitted to turn upon the threaded
section b and provided with radial arms or projections e, the actuating spring F the
enclosing case C and independent fastening stops secured by solder on the casing and
arranged in contact with the arms of the nut substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
Sixth-In automatic sprinklers the nozzle A in combination with the internally
seated cap B the reciprocating cap stem 6 threaded at its end the rotating nut E fitted
to turn upon said threaded end and provided with radial arms or projections e the
case C enclosing said nut and provided with a series of slots c¹ the coiled spring F
arranged within the case and fastened at one end thereto and at the other to the nut
and a series of stop pins G inserted in the said slots in the case to engage with
the projections on the nut and secured in position by solder, substantially as and for
the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.