Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishers or Sprinklers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM ESTY, of No. 17, Church Street,
Laconia, County of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, United States
of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishers or Sprinklers.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My invention relates to automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers. As is
well-known, these devices are applied to orifices in pipes arranged below the
ceilings of warehouses, mills and the like, and are so constructed as that in the
event of a rise of temperature due to the starting of a fire they become unsealed
and permit a flow of water whereby the fire is extinguished.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a view of an automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler which embodies
certain features of my invention.
Fig. 2 shows views of the valve detached.
Fig. 3 shows the non-corrodible disk detached.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show various constructions of valve-support.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the safety-device of Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 is a view of the safety-pin of Fig. 5 detached.
Fig. 6 is a view of the safety-device of Figs. 1, 6 and 7 detached.
Figs. 7 and 7 respectively are views showing detached different forms of the
releasing spring which is represented in Fig. 7.
Figs. 8 and 9 are views of the distributor disk or cup, detached.
Fig. 10 is a view of the valve-support in section on line 10-10 Fig: 4.
The stirrup-like frame or casing of my device comprises the hubs 1 and 2 and
the ties 3, 3. The hub 1 is tubular and is screw-threaded exteriorly to enable it to
be secured in position in a correspondingly internally-threaded hole in the water-
supply pipe (not shown) to which it is applied. The said hub 1 constitutes a
nozzle for the discharge of water from the said pipe. Its lower end constitutes a
seat to which is applied the valve 4. The valve 4, see Fig. 2, has formed in its
upper surface a shallow circular recess 41 in which is fitted a disk 5, see Fig. 3, of
some non-corrodible material, preferably mica. This disk prevents the valve from
becoming rusted into place and from sticking to its seat when its support has been
removed, which would render the device inoperative.
The valve is held to its seat by the support 6, consisting of the two triangular
parts, halves, or members 61, 61, each of which is provided with a conical centre 62,
at its larger end. The centre 62 of the upper part or member 61 fits into the
recess 41 in the under surface of the valve 4, and the centre 62 of the lower part
or member 61 fits into a similar recess that is formed in the upper end of the
screw 7. The said screw thus serves as a step. It is fitted to a threaded hole
formed through the lower hub 2, and is turned until by its pressure transmitted
through the two-part valve-support 6, the valve 4 is held firmly against its seat.
ID 71

page_text: The triangular parts or members 61, 61 of the valve-support are formed with
meeting surfaces 63 which extend transversely with relation to the line of pressure
that is transmitted through the valve-support, and these surfaces are united
together along their length by solder 64 which is fusible at or about 160° or other
predetermined low temperature. The parts or members 61,61 preferably are made
exactly alike in order that they may be cast from the same pattern, and also in
order to render the valve-support perfectly symmetrical in shape. Each part or
member is T-shaped in vertical cross-section, see Fig. 10, it having the horizontal
web 66 extending lengthwise thereof and the vertical web 67 that is joined to the
web 66 at midwidth of the latter. The flat outer sides of the horizontal webs
constitute the proximate or meeting faces of the parts or members 61, 61 and are of
considerable area. The described construction of the said valve-support secures
strength, while it is light and with no heavy or thick mass of metal present at
any point, this last feature being particularly important in the case of the
horizontal webs and enabling them to heat through quickly so as to ensure the
speedy fusing of the solder or other uniting material by an increase of temperature.
A serious defect to prior sprinklers of this class is the fact that the exposed
portions of fusible metal or solder become entirely encrusted or covered by
the corrosion of the metal of the valve-support; that is, by the formation of
verdigris or other products of corrosion, which is non-conductive, and prevents
speedy fusion of the solder when a fire breaks out. In my extinguisher or
sprinkler inasmuch as the solder is exposed chiefly or wholly at the edges of the
horizontal webs and as the said edges are comparatively thin, there is very little
opportunity for incrustation to form over the solder. There also is a reduced
liability of the said edges becoming bound together by the said incrustation in
a manner which will prevent the two parts, halves or members of the valve-support
from separating.
The free end of the valve-support projects directly outward so as to be exposed
fully to the influence of ascending heated air, and also so as to be removed from
liability to become wetted and chilled by the first jet of water which escapes from
the nozzle as the valve opens. The meeting faces of the webs 66, 66 terminate at
a point a little to one side of the vertical line which passes through the centres of
the projections 62, 62, such point being outside of the said line, as is indicated by
the drawing. When the solder or other fusible material uniting the parts 61, 61
becomes fused and affords opportunity for the latter to separate under the pressure
of the water upon the valve 5, such parts will turn on each other at their base ends
as on fulcra, splitting apart from their outermost tips to the said base ends, thus
releasing the valve and permitting a full discharge of water from the nozzle.
8 is a sprinkler or distributor disk or cup. It is mounted loosely upon the stem
of the screw 7, below the hub 2, and is freely revoluble thereon. The said
sprinkler disk or cup has its main body made concavo-convex and is provided
around its outer edge with a petticoat-like flange 81, the outer surface of which
forms an acute angle with the outer portion of the upper or concave surface of the
disk or cup. The angular ridge formed by the junction of said surfaces has cut
through it a series of grooves or notches 82, which are formed obliquely with
reference to radial lines, or tangential to a circle concentric to the axis of said
disk or cup, and are of sufficient depth to form openings 83 between said. petticoat
flauge and the concavo-convex portion.
As herein before indicated, the device is applied in practice to a hole in a
water-pipe which is arranged near the ceiling of the room or the like to be
protected. If a fire is started in the said room or hall so that the temperature of
the latter is raised above a predetermined point, the solder 64 uniting the two
parts or members 61, 61 will be fused so as to present no obstacle to the separation
of the said parts. The pressure of the water in the supply-pipe acting upon the
valve 4 and through it against the proximate centre 62 in a line at one side of and
removed from the inner contiguous corners 65, 65 of the said parts or members 61, 61
will cause the outer ends of the latter to split apart. The parts or members 61, 61,

page_text: then will fly out and to the floor, releasing the valve 4 and permitting it to fall
away from its seat. The water which then escapes from the pipe through the
opening in the hub 1, strikes with considerable force against the concave surface of
the disk or cup 8. In escaping from the said surface, a portion of the water is
forced against the outer oblique sides of the notches 82, thereby causing the
sprinkler disk or cup to revolve upon the screw 7. Other portions of the water
find their way through the openings 83, and, striking against the inner inclined
surface of the petticoat-flange, are deflected therefrom in a great variety of
directions. The action of the sprinkler disk or cup, as will be evident occasions a
most thorough breaking up and scattering of the water in all directions, so as to
cause it to fall to the floor in a shower of spray which covers a very considerable
area, including the space directly beneath the sprinkler. The device will operate
equally well whether the discharge of water is downward or upward; but when
the discharge is upward I prefer to reverse the sprinkler disk or cup relatively to
the valve, so that the water-discharge from the orifice of the hub 1 will strike the
convex side of the disk or cup instead of the concave side.
Practical experience with automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers containing,
like my present device, fusible joints, that is to say, those fire extinguishers or
sprinklers in which a valve is secured in place by the employment of solder or
other material which is fusible at a comparatively low temperature, and hence, in
case of a fire is melted by the heat generated by the latter, and thus releases the
valve, has developed the fact that there is a tendency of the parts which are held
in place by the solder or other fusible material to yield gradually under the
pressure that is exerted by the water against the interior surface of the valve, so
as to allow the said valve to open, partially or wholly, and permit the escape of
water. This yielding results from the so-called "creeping," under the strain
resulting from the pressure of the water, of the solder or other fusible material
which is employed to hold the valve in place. It is the object of one part of my
invention to provide means which may be employed, if desired, to obviate this
creeping and thereby to guard against and prevent the parts from yielding in
such manner as prematurely to permit the valve to open and the water to escape.
This part of my invention consists in a safety-device which constitutes a kind of
coupling that links together the separable portions of the valve-support, and which
in addition to engaging the valve-support is bound in place so as not to yield under
any strain tending to open the soldered joint of the valve-support, by solder or
other fusible material corresponding with that used for the soldered joint of the
valve-support. So long as the safety-device itself is bound in place it relieves the
said soldered joint from practically all strain tending to open the same.
however, the sprinkler or fire extinguisher is subjected to a heat sufficient to fuse
the solder or other fusible material that is employed in making the joint and in
binding in place the safety-device the freeing of the latter affords opportunity for
the strain to exert itself in opening the soldered joint.
When,
Figs. 1, 6, 6 and 7 illustrate one form of safety-device which I have devised
in order to secure this object. Figs. 4 and 4* illustrate another form, thereof.
Figs. 5, 5, and 5 illustrate a third form.
Having reference to Figs. 1, 6, 6 and 7 the safety-device shown therein is
marked 9. It is made with a bend or loop 91 that receives within it a portion of
one part or member 61 of the valve-support adjacent to the free extremity of such
part or member and with an arm or arins 92 which I secure by solder to the other
member of the valve-support. Preferably said safety-device is made of a length
of wire, which first is bent into the shape of a long U, and then has the portion
thereof which contains the turn or base of the U bent again at a somewhat obtuse
angle to the length of the arm or arms. In the drawing, the safety-device is
shown provided with two arms, and the latter lie on the outer surfaces of the
horizontal web 66 of one of the parts or members 61, being soldered in place
thereon by fusible solder such as that which is employed at 64. The free end or
extremity of the other part or member 61 is engaged by the bend or loop 91.

page_text: As will be obvious, any strain exerted by the said free end as the parts or
members 61, 61 tend to separate at their free ends operates to cause the safety-
device to turn around the end of web 66 as on a fulcrum, but so long as the ends
or arms 92 are bound down by unfused solder the safety-device will be prevented
from turning and the strain will be resisted effectually. When, however, the arms
are unbound by the fusing of the solder which holds them in place, the strain will
at once turn the safety-device around the end of the web 66 in such manner as to
release instantly the two parts or members and leave them free to separate. The
solder which binds down the arms 92 will fuse at the same time with or before the
solder 64. Preferably, I make the spring device of spring wire, and give a curve
or inclination to the arms thereof as clearly as shown in Fig. 6. In the operation
of soldering the said arms in place, they are bent or deflected somewhat toward
the web 66 so as to straighten them and thereby are put under strain, but when the
securing solder is fused as aforesaid they recover their normal condition by virtue
of their elasticity. This tendency to resume their original form assists in freeing
the said arms, and clears them from any slight hold that the solder may retain
upon them. Thus it secures a prompt and automatic disengagement of the safety
device. It will be obvious that as soon as the solder 64 is fused sufficiently by the
presence of heat, the arm or arms of the safety-device 9 will spring away from the
web 66 to which it is secured thus placing the entire strain of the water pressure
on the solder which is used to secure the two parts or members 61, 61 together.
This sudden strain tends to free the parts from each other, and thus permit the
valve to drop out of position and the water to escape.
A notch is formed in the vertical web 67 of each part or member of the valve-
support adjacent to the outer end thereof, to afford a rest or seat for the bend or
loop of the safety-device, and ensure its remaining in proper engagement until the
moment of release.
In Fig. 4, the tips or outermost ends of the parts or members 61, 61 are beveled
off, as shown in dotted lines, and to the beveled tips is fitted a cap 93 having its
interior correspondingly beveled as in Fig. 4. Preferably, the said tips are
formed with a slight additional amount of metal therein, and are rounded, so
that when the parts or members of the valve support are put together the outer
end of the valve-support constitutes a short cone. To this cone the cap 93, which
is made in the form of a conical shell, as indicated best in Fig. 4ª is fitted as
shown, and it is secured in place by fusible metal or solder of the character of that
which unites the halves of the valve-support to each other. The incline or bevel
which is produced on the exterior of the outer end of the valve-support and the
interior of the cap is approximately that which is represented, which will enable
the cap to exercise the desired restraint upon the parts or members of the valve-
support and prevent the creeping and undesired separation above described, so long
as the fusible metal remains unfused, and will leave said parts or members free to
separate immediately upon the fusing of the fusible metal or solder uniting the
parts or members and holding the cap on its seat.
Having reference now to Figs. 5, 5 and 5B at 94 94 are holes which are formed
in enlargements in the outer ends of the parts or members 61, 61. These holes
may be as shown somewhat tapering and larger at their outer ends than they are
at the ends which come next each other. At 95 is a pin which preferably is of
the shape shown in Figs. 5 and 5B, that is, tapering slightly from both ends
toward the middle thereof, or it may be otherwise suitably enlarged at the ends
thereof. The pin is somewhat smaller in diameter than the holes 94, 94, and after
being inserted in the latter it is secured in place by fusible metal or solder, as
indicated at 96. The said holes 94, 94 preferably are located at or near the
extreme outer ends of the parts or members 61, 61, in order to enable the pin 95 to
act more efficiently in resisting any tendency of the parts or members 61, 61 to
separate. The filling of solder around the pin 95 within the holes 94, 94 operates
to resist and retard the withdrawal of the pin from the holes or from either of said
holes, in case the parts 61 should move apart under the action of the water-pressure,

page_text: so that the separation will take place very slowly. The result of this will be that
at first only a slight discharge of water from the nozzle will occur, and this by
attracting notice will give warning of the condition of the sprinkler before serious
damage has been done. In the presence of a temperature sufficient to fuse the
fusible metal or solder, the pin 95 will be released immediately, and no longer will
interfere with the speedy operation of the device. The pin need not be of
diminished size in the middle, but may be of one size throughout its length, and
may be of any shape in cross-section. If desired, the pin may be formed
integrally with one of the parts or members 61, and enter a hole or recess in the
other.
Another part of my invention has for its object to provide a means whereby
immediate and prompt releasing of the valve will be ensured whenever the tempera-
ture has been raised sufficiently to effect the fusing. of the solder which secures the
retention in place of the valve. I attain this object by the device which I will now
describe with reference to Figs. 7, 7 and 7B. Fig. 7 shows the releasing device
which constitutes this part of the invention combined with the safety-device 9 which
has been described. The releasing device may be used without the latter if desire:1,
but I prefer to use it in connection therewith, or with some other form of safety-
device.
The said releasing device consists of the spring 10. This spring may consist of a
flat piece of spring metal bent to the shape shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The
width of the piece of metal employed preferably is somewhat less than the width of
the webs 66 of the members 61, 61 of the valve support. For the reception of the
spring 10 the said webs are each formed with a recess as shown at 11, Fig. 7.
When the members 61 are placed together in position to support the valve, an
opening is formed by the said recesses 11 as will be clear from said Fig. 7, and the
separator spring is inserted in said opening, the free ends of the spring being
compressed to permit of its insertion. As will be clear, the said spring bears upon
each of the members 61, 61 of the valve support and tends to force said members
apart. By varying the quality of the spring, its power and consequently the force
it exerts, may be increased or diminished. For the purpose of protecting the spring
and preventing it from becoming clogged, or the like, I fill the recess or cavity
between the members of the valve-support, alter it is placed therein with a
substance such as paraffin, or the like, which is sufficiently solid at normal tempera-
ture to fully protect the spring, and which in the presence of a slight degree of
heat will melt and thus present no obstacle to the free operation thereof.
For the employment of such a separating device the complete and prompt
separation of the parts or members of the valve-support is insured.
As will be obvious, the form of separating device and the material used in its
construction, as also its location relatively to the valve-support, are not material
and I do not desire to limit myself in these particulars. Fig. 7B shows a separator-
spring made of wire, the same being formed into a coil, at the opposite ends of
which are diverging arms for action against the two parts or members of the valve-
support. The ends of the arms are bent at right angles to take good bearing against
the proximate surfaces of the said parts or members, and the ends of the bent
portions are turned up to engage with the edges of the parts or members and prevent
lateral movement of the spring.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention 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. The automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler provided with the valve-support
composed of the two triangular parts having opposing surfaces formed transversely
with relation to the line of pressure and soldered together along a longitudinal
joint by a metal that is fusible at a low temperature and also having bearing centres
offset with relation to the bearing contact between said parts.
2. The automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler provided with the valve support

page_text: composed of the two triangular parts having opposing surfaces formed transversely
with relation to the line of pressure and soldered together along a longitudinal
joint by a metal that is fusible at a low temperature and also having bearing centres
offset with relation to the bearing contact between said parts, and a safety-device
coupling said parts together and operating to restrain the creeping of the fusible
metal of the said joint.
3. The automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler provided with the valve-support
composed of the two triangular parts having opposing surfaces formed transversely
with relation to the line of pressure and soldered together along a longitudinal
joint by a metal that is fusible at a low temperature and also having bearing
centres offset with relation to the bearing contact between, said parts, and the
safety-device 9 engaging with one of said parts and secured by fusible metal to
the other thereof, as represented in Figs. 1, 6 and 7.
4. The automatic fire extinguisher or sprinkler provided with the valve-support
composed of the two triangular parts having opposing surfaces formed transversely
with relation to the line of pressure and soldered together along a longitudinal
joint by a metal that is fusible at a low temperature and also having bearing
centres offset with relation to the bearing contact between said parts, and the
separating spring 10 interposed between said parts.
5. The sprinkler disk or cup having the concavo-convex body, the annular
pendent flange, the series of oblique notches and the openings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.