Patent Document

This is a continuation application of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/438,141, filed Nov. 10, 1999, by Thomas E. Winebrenner, entitled DOUBLE-BLADE DEFLECTOR FOR SIDE WALL SPRINKLER, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, which claims priority from provisional U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 60/114,350, filed Dec. 29, 1998, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sprinkler assembly and, more particularly, to a flush sprinkler assembly for use in a side wall mount. 
     Automatic sprinklers are well known and have long been used in fire extinguishing systems. Typically, automatic sprinkler assemblies include a sprinkler head which includes an inlet for connecting to a pressurized supply of water or other fire extinguishing fluid, an outlet opening, and a deflector which is mounted spaced from the outlet opening of the sprinkler head. The deflector disperses and directs the water in an optimum pattern when the water is discharged through the outlet opening. In one common form, the deflector is mounted in a fixed position and spaced from the outlet opening by a frame. The frame includes a pair of arms, which attach to either side of the sprinkler head, and aligns the deflector with the path of the water when it is discharged through the outlet opening. The outlet opening is normally closed by a closure seal which is held in place typically by a trigger element, such as a glass bulb or a fusible link element. The trigger element extends between the seal and the frame and is usually held in place by a set screw or the like. 
     Other forms of sprinkler assemblies include flush sprinkler assemblies. Flush sprinkler assemblies include a housing and a deflector which is recessed within the housing. The deflector is movably mounted to the sprinkler head by a pair of guide members and moves between a closed position in which the deflector is recessed within the housing and an extended position wherein the deflector projects from the housing and is spaced from the outlet opening of the sprinkler head. Since the deflector is supported only by two guide members, the deflector can experience instability or rotation about the axis extending between the two guide members. Similar to a fixed sprinkler head assembly, a flush sprinkler head assembly includes a thermally responsive trigger mechanism and a fluid seal. In a flush sprinkler, the fluid seal is positioned within the interior of the sprinkler head and is maintained in a closed position by a pair of pins or actuators. The pins are inwardly biased by the trigger mechanism. Thus, under normal operating conditions, the trigger mechanism prohibits fluid flow from the outlet of sprinkler head. When the temperature rises to a preselected value, the trigger mechanism, which is normally a fusible link, separates permitting the pins to move in an outward direction under the pressure of the water. With the separation of the fusible link, the pressure in the water supply line pushes the fluid seal away from the outlet opening and the deflector to its outward position thereby enabling the water to travel through the sprinkler head and to be dispersed by the deflector. 
     In side wall mounted sprinklers, however, the ejection of trigger assembly may slow the release of the deflector from within the housing of the flush sprinkler assembly. Additionally, the orientation of assembly causes the pressurized water to disperse in a horizontal direction. While attempts have been made to redirect the flow of the water downwardly by adding a blade to the deflector, heretofore these side wall sprinklers have not produced an optimal spray pattern. Nor are they suitable for flush mounted arrangements since they do not permit the deflector to be fully recessed within the sprinkler head base. Consequently, there is a need for a flush side wall sprinkler assembly which offers improved ejection of the trigger assembly from the sprinkler head assembly when the trigger is activated. Furthermore, there is a need for an automatic side wall sprinkler assembly which exhibits an optimized spray pattern. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a flush side wall sprinkler assembly which includes an improved deflector and trigger assembly. The deflector assembly optimizes the dispersion of the water as it flows from the outlet by directing the flow of water outwardly and downwardly from the sprinkler head assembly when the sprinkler assembly is exposed to temperatures associated with a fire. The trigger assembly includes an ejector mechanism which improves the ejection of the trigger assembly from the sprinkler head assembly. 
     According to one form of the invention, a side wall sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body, a deflector, a closure member, and a trigger assembly. The deflector includes a pair of blades which are positioned on a common side from a central axis of the deflector. The closure member seals the outlet opening of the sprinkler body. The trigger assembly urges the closure member to sealingly engage the sprinkler body to close the outlet opening. Upon detecting a temperature associated with a fire, the trigger assembly releases the closure member whereby the pressurized fluid moves the closure off the outlet opening moves the deflector to the extended position. 
     In one aspect, the deflector includes a pair of upwardly extending arms, with the blades extending between the upwardly extending arms. In preferred form, the pair of blades are generally parallel. 
     In other aspects, the deflector is movably mounted to the body for generally horizontal movement. The deflector is movable between a retracted position wherein the deflector is recessed within the body and an extended position wherein the deflector is spaced from the outlet opening for dispersing the pressurized fluid which flows from the outlet opening. 
     According to another form of the invention, an automatic side wall sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body, a deflector, a closure member, and a trigger assembly. The deflector is movably mounted to the body for generally horizontal movement between a retracted position wherein at least a portion of the deflector is recessed within a cavity of the sprinkler head body and an extended position wherein the deflector is spaced from an outlet opening of the sprinkler head body for dispersing pressurized fluid which flows from the outlet opening. The deflector includes a pair of generally horizontal deflecting surfaces which are positioned and spaced from and generally parallel to a direction of flow of the fluid from the outlet opening for directing the flow of fluid outwardly and downwardly from the sprinkler assembly. The closure member is positioned between the deflector and the outlet opening for sealing the outlet opening. The trigger assembly applies a biasing force to urge the deflector in the retracted position and to urge the closure member to sealingly engage the sprinkler body to thereby close the outlet opening. Upon detecting a temperature associated with a fire, the trigger assembly releases the biasing force on the deflector and the closure member whereby the pressurized fluid moves the closure member off the outlet opening and moves the deflector to the extended position. 
     In one aspect, the trigger assembly includes a heat sensitive assembly and a spring assembly. The heat sensitive assembly has a pair of elements which are interconnected by heat fusible material which melts upon detecting a temperature associated with a fire. The spring assembly biases the deflector toward the retracted position and further urges the elements to separate when the heat fusible material is melted. Upon separating the elements, however, the spring releases the bias on the deflector. For example, the elements of the heat sensitive assembly may comprise plates. 
     In another aspects, the sprinkler assembly includes an ejector member for urging the trigger assembly to eject from the sprinkler head when the heat fusible material melts. For example, the spring assembly may include a pair of levers, with the ejector member being positioned between the levers and the deflector assembly to eject the levers from the sprinkler body when the heat sensitive assembly is triggered. In further aspects, the spring assembly further includes a lever support and a set screw, with the lever support being positioned between the levers and the ejector member and the set screw providing a biasing force to bias the deflector in the retracted position. 
     In other aspects, the ejector member is coupled to the lever support. For example, in one form the ejector member may include a pair of arms which releasably engage the lever support. 
     In another form of the invention, a side wall sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body, a deflector, a closure member, and a trigger assembly. The sprinkler body has a passage which extends through the body and defines an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening communicates with a pressurized supply of fire suppressant fluid for delivering the pressurized fluid through the passage to the outlet opening. The sprinkler body includes a cavity, with the outlet opening being positioned in the cavity. The deflector is movably mounted to the sprinkler head body by three pins and moves between a retracted position within the cavity during an inactive state and an extended position outside of the cavity during an active state. The closure member is positioned between the deflector and the outlet opening for sealing the outlet opening. The trigger assembly applies a biasing force to the closure member to close the outlet opening. Upon detecting a temperature associated with a fire the trigger assembly releases the biasing force whereby the pressurized fire suppressant fluid in the passage moves the closure member off the outlet opening and moves the deflector assembly to the extended position. 
     In yet another form of the invention, an automatic side wall sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body, a deflector, a closure member, and a trigger assembly. Similar to the other forms, the deflector is movably mounted to the sprinkler body between a retracted position wherein at least a portion of the deflector is recessed within a cavity of the sprinkler body and an extended position wherein the deflector is spaced from an outlet opening of the sprinkler body for dispersing pressurized fluid which flows from the outlet opening. The closure member is positioned between the deflector and the outlet opening for sealing the outlet opening. The trigger assembly applies a biasing force to urge the deflector in the retracted position and to urge the closure member to sealingly engage the sprinkler body to thereby close the outlet opening. Upon detecting a temperature associated with a fire, the trigger assembly releases the biasing force on the deflector and the seal whereby the pressurized fluid moves the seal off the outlet opening and moves the deflector to the extended position. 
     In preferred form, the trigger assembly includes a heat sensitive assembly and a spring assembly. The heat sensitive assembly has a pair of elements which are interconnected by heat fusible material, which melts upon detecting of a temperature associated with a fire. The spring assembly applies a bias to urge the deflector toward the retracted position and urges the elements to separate when the heat fusible material melts. In further aspects, the trigger assembly includes an ejector member. When the spring assembly releases the bias on the deflector, the ejector urges the spring assembly to eject outwardly from the sprinkler head body. 
     These and other advantages, benefits, and objects will be understood by one skilled in the art from the drawings, descriptions, and claims which follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flush sprinkler head assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the flush sprinkler head assembly of FIG. 1 mounted in an opening of a side wall; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sprinkler head assembly of FIG. 1 with the cover removed; 
     FIG. 4 is a rotated perspective view of the sprinkler head assembly of FIG. 3 with the deflector assembly in a retracted position; 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the sprinkler head of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI—VI of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a similar cross-sectional view to FIG. 6 with the deflector assembly moved to its extended position; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the deflector assembly of the sprinkler head assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the deflector assembly of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded side view of the deflector assembly of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the deflector assembly of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the sprinkler head assembly of FIG. 3 with the deflector assembly and fusible link in a non-activated state; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII—XIII of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line XIV—XIV of FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the sprinkler head assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral  10  generally designates a flush sprinkler head assembly of the present invention especially suitable for side wall mounting. Sprinkler head assembly  10  mounts in an opening  11  provided in a side wall S and includes an improved movable deflector assembly  22  (FIG. 3) and trigger assembly  24  (FIG. 3) which results in a quicker response when the sprinkler is exposed to a temperature of a preselected value which is associated with a fire and an improved trajectory of a fire extinguishing fluid, for example water. Henceforth, reference will be made to water as the fire extinguishing fluid, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other fire extinguishing fluids or fire suppressants may be used. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, sprinkler head assembly  10  includes a housing  12  and a sprinkler head body  12   a  to which housing  12  is mounted, for example by welding or other suitable means. Housing  12  and sprinkler head body  12   a  are preferably metal components and, more preferably, brass components. Sprinkler head body  12   a  includes a first threaded portion  14  for coupling to a pressurized water supply system and a second threaded portion  18  which defines a cavity  20  for housing deflector assembly  22  and trigger assembly  24  (FIG.  3 ). Body  12   a  further includes a transverse passage  16  which extends through body  12   a  and defines an inlet opening  16   a  at first threaded portion  14  and an outlet opening  16   b  recessed in cavity  20  (FIGS.  6  and  7 ). Deflector assembly  22  and trigger assembly  24  are mounted to sprinkler head body  12   a  and recessed within cavity  20  during a non-activated state, as will be more fully described below. Mounted to threaded portion  18  is a cover  26  which threadingly engages threaded portion  18 . Cover  26  provides a mounting flange and conceals opening  11  when sprinkler head assembly is mounted to side wall S. Preferably, body  12   a  also includes a pair of mounting members or tabs  29  which abut against the inner surface of side wall S (FIG.  2 ). Thus, when cover  26  is threaded on to threaded portion  18 , sidewall S is compressed between tabs  29  and cover  26  to secure sprinkler head assembly  10  in place. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-11, deflector assembly  22  is movably mounted to sprinkler head body  12   a  along a horizontal axis and includes a deflector  30 . Similar to housing  12  and body  12   a , deflector assembly  22  is preferably a metal assembly, with deflector  30  preferably comprising a brass deflector. When sprinkler head assembly  10  is installed, deflector  30  moves generally horizontally between a retracted or inactive position within cavity  20  in which deflector  30  is preferably completely contained or recessed in cavity  20  and an extended or active position in which deflector  30  is spaced from outlet opening  16   b  to disperse the water which flows from outlet opening  16   b . Deflector  30  includes a body  35  with a plurality of radially of extending legs or arms  36  which disperse the water and alter the trajectory of the water as it flows from outlet opening  16   b  when deflector  30  is moved to its extended position. Also projecting outwardly from body  35  of deflector  30  are a pair of radial mounting arms  38   a ,  38   b , and  38   c  (FIGS. 5 and 8) to which a corresponding plurality of guide pins  40  are mounted for movably mounting deflector  30  to body  12   a  of sprinkler assembly  10 . In preferred form, deflector  30  is movably mounted to body  12   a  by at least three guide pins in order to provide increased support and stability of deflector  30 . As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, guide pins  40  extend into respective passages  41  formed in body  12   a  and include stops  40   a  to limit their movement through passages  41  from the fully retracted position wherein deflector assembly  22  is fully recessed in cavity  20  to the fully extended position wherein deflector  30  is spaced from outlet opening  16   b.    
     As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, radially projecting arms  38   a  and  38   b  are interconnected by a semi-annular support member  42 . Support member  42  includes a pair of arms  43   a  and  43   b , which extend upwardly from arms  38   a  and  38   b  when sprinkler head assembly  10  is installed, and a first blade member  44  which projects outwardly from arms  43   a  and  43   b , away from outlet opening  16   b . Blade member  44  includes a deflecting surface  44 ′ which is spaced from the outlet opening  16  and is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal or central axis  16   c  of passage  16  to direct the flow of water outwardly and downwardly from outlet opening  16   b . Furthermore, blade member  44  is preferably spaced from and oriented generally parallel to arms  38   a  and  38   b . In the illustrated embodiment, blade member  44  is generally rectangular and preferably includes a straight free edge  44   a  and a rearwardly projecting portion  44   b  which extends toward outlet opening  16   b  to improve the downward deflection of the water; however, it should be understood that blade member  44  can have other shapes and/or configurations to produce a similar downward redirection of the water from the outlet opening. In preferred form, blade member  44  is formed from a segment of support member  42  which is rotated, for example by stamping, to a position generally parallel direction to the flow of water in passage  16 . In addition, blade  44  is sized to permit deflector assembly  22  to be fully recessed within sprinkler head body  12   a . In this manner, when water flows from outlet opening  16   a  and is initially dispersed in a radial manner, as will be more fully described below, the water will impinge on deflector surface  44 ′ and be redirected downward from sprinkler assembly  10 . Supported on body  35  is a second blade member  46  which includes a deflection surface  46 ′ for similarly redirecting the flow of water from outlet opening  16   b  outwardly and downwardly. Together with projecting arms  36 , blade members  44  and  46  alter the trajectory of the water as it flows out of outlet opening  16   b  in a generally outwardly and downwardly direction which is particularly desirable in a side wall mounting application. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8,  10 , and  11 , blade member  46  includes a blade element  46   a  and a mounting portion  48  for mounting blade member onto deflector  30 . Mounting portion  48  preferably includes a pair of locating members  48   a  and  48   b  which straddle a central portion  35   a  of body  35  and abut upper sides  38 ′ of radially extending legs  38   a  and  38   b . When mounted to body  35 , mounting portion  48  positions blade element  46   a  of blade member  46  spaced from longitudinal axis  16   c  and in a generally parallel orientation to the direction of flow of fluid from outlet  16   b  similar to blade member  44  and, further, is preferably spaced from axis  16   c  on the same side as blade member  44 . In preferred form, blade element  46   a  includes a generally rectangular body which defines deflecting surface  46 ′ and which includes a radiused notch or central cut-out portion  49  at its free edge  46   a ′ (FIG. 10) and, further, is sized to permit deflector assembly  22  to be fully recessed within sprinkler head body  12   a . When mounted to central portion  35   a  of deflector body  35 , end portions  46   b  and  46   c  of blade member  46  extend over support member  42  of deflector  30 . Preferably, when seated on body  35 , blade member  46  extends between arms  43   a  and  43   b , and positioning members  48   a  and  48   b  align blade element  46   a  generally parallel to and spaced from blade member  44  so that together blade members  44  and  46  redirect the flow of water outwardly and downwardly from sprinkler assembly  10 . 
     As best seen in FIGS. 8-11, projecting legs  36  of deflector  30  are bent and twisted in a manner to disperse or divert the flow of water from the outlet opening  16   b  in a generally radial pattern so that sprinkler assembly  10  will disperse water over a large area and yet provide sufficient coverage to extinguish a fire. Preferably, outermost projecting members  36   a  are twisted about their respective longitudinal axes such that their inner edges  36   a ′ are twisted into the plane defined by body  35  whereas outer edges  36   a ″ are twisted to project out of the plane defined by body  35 . Inner projecting legs  36   b  are bent into the plane defined by body  35  as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 8. It should be understood to those skilled in the art that the number of legs  36  can be increased or decreased as desired and, further, that legs  36  can be arranged in many different configurations. The preferred form is for illustrative purposes only. 
     Referring again to FIG. 11, central portion  35   a  of body  35  includes a central circular opening  35   b . Positioned in opening  35   b  is a spring and button assembly  50  (FIG.  10 ). When mounted to body  12   a , spring and button assembly  50  extends rearwardly of deflector  30  toward outlet opening  16   b . Referring again to FIG. 10, spring and button assembly  50  comprises a mounting base  52  which includes an annular flange  53  and a projecting mounting member  54   a . Projecting mounting member  54   a  extends into and through opening  35   b  (FIG. 11) of deflector body  35 . Extending from an opposed side of flange  53  is a second projecting mounting member or collar  54   b , in which a button assembly  58  is positioned. Button assembly  58  includes a shaft  59 , which extends into collar  54   b , and a bullet-shaped button body  60 . Slidably mounted on collar  54   b  is an annular spring sealing or closure member  62 , which seals outlet opening  16   b  of sprinkler head assembly  10  when deflector assembly  22  is retracted into cavity  20  in its closed position as shown in (FIGS.  13  and  14 ). 
     As best understood from FIGS. 6 and 14, when deflector assembly  22  is in its closed position, button body  60  extends through outlet opening  16   b  and is positioned in passage  16 . In addition, spring sealing or closure member  62  is positioned over outlet opening  16   b  and positioned on an annular sealing surface  64  provided on sprinkler head body  12   a  which extends around or circumscribes outlet opening  16   b . As will be described in greater detail in reference to trigger assembly  24 , when in the unactivated state, deflector assembly  22  is biased toward body  12   a  in cavity  20  and spring sealing member  62  sealingly engages annular sealing surface  64  thereby closing outlet opening  16   b . However, when trigger assembly  24  is activated to open by exposure to temperatures associated with a fire, deflector assembly  22  being no longer biased towards body  12   a  moves to its extended position with deflector  30  spaced from outlet opening  16   b  under the force of the water pressure of the water in passage  16 . The water pressure pushes on spring sealing member  62  and the rearward side of deflector  30  to push deflector assembly  30  to its extended position until stops  40   a  of guide pins  40  engage bearing surface  451   a  of body  12   a . The initial water pressure from outlet opening  16   b  is increased by button body  60 , which restricts the initial flow of water from passage  16  through outlet opening  16   b . However, once deflector assembly  22  is in its fully extended position and button body  60  is fully removed from passage  16 , rather than restricting the flow of water button body  60  provides an initial dispersion of the water flowing from outlet opening  16   b . Once in the extended position, deflector  30  further disperses the flow of water from outlet opening  16   b  with arms  36  and blades  44  and  46  dispersing and directing the flow of water generally downward (as viewed in FIGS.  3 - 5 ). 
     As previously described, deflector assembly  22  is biased in its non-activated or retracted position by trigger assembly  24 . Referring again to FIG. 3, trigger assembly  24  includes a fusible plate assembly  70 , a pair of levers or arms  72 , and a lever support and guide member  74 . Fusible plate assembly  70  includes a first fusible plate member  70   a  and a second fusible plate member  70   b  which are joined by heat fusible or heat sensitive material. Heat fusible materials are generally known in the automatic sprinkler industry and is generally recognized as a material used in the art possessing the requisite degree of bonding strength and thermal sensitivity such that when the fusible plate assembly  70  is exposed to temperatures associated with a fire the heat fusible material melts releasing the connection between plates  70   a  and  70   b.    
     Referring to FIGS. 12-14, trigger assembly  24  is mounted to sprinkler assembly  10  by a spring assembly  71 . Spring assembly  71  includes a pair of levers  72 , lever support  74 , and an ejector  76 . Levers  72  are supported by lever support  74  and extend into an annular groove  80  formed an inner surface of second threaded portion  18  in cavity  20  to releasably mount trigger assembly  24  to sprinkler head body  12   a . As best seen in FIG. 13, each lever  72  includes a groove engaging portion  92  for engaging groove  80  and fusible link engaging portion  94  for engaging fusible plate assembly  70 . Fusible link engaging portions  94  of levers  72  extend through apertures  96  and  98  which are provided in plate members  70   a  and  70   b , respectively. Together groove engaging portion  92  and fusible link engaging portion  94  form a generally inverted L-shaped cross-section which will provide a biased lever type action more fully described below. 
     Lever support  74  is positioned beneath levers  72  and biases levers  72  outwardly from cavity  20 . As best seen in FIG. 3, lever support  74  is generally channel-shaped and includes a webbed portion  82  and a pair of opposed flanges  84  and  86  which define side walls. Extending upwardly from web portion  82  are a pair of lever support members  88  and  90  which are preferably punched out from web portion  82  to define openings  82   b . As shown in FIG. 13, lever support members  88  and  90  provide support for levers  72  when trigger assembly  24  is mounted to groove  80  of sprinkler head body  12   a . Lever support  74  further includes a central opening  100  in web portion  82  which is threaded for receiving a threaded set screw  102 . Referring again to FIG. 13, when groove engaging portions  92  of levers  72  are positioned in groove  80  and fusible link engaging portions  94  are extended through apertures  96  and  98 , set screw  102  is tightened such that distal end  102   a  of set screw extends into a pocket  104  provided on button and seal mounting member  54   a . In this manner, sealing member  62  is biased against sealing surface  64  to cover and seal outlet opening  16   b . In addition, levers  72  are biased outwardly from sprinkler head  12   a  by the force of set screw  102  on lever support  74  as it bears against seal and button mounting member  54   a  and lever support  74  pushes on levers  72 . As best seen in FIG. 13, support members  88  and  90  contact levers  72  inwardly of groove engaging portions  92  and inwardly of fusible link engaging portions  94  which causes levers  72  to apply a tension force to fusible plate members  70   a  and  70   b  in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG.  3 . Thus, when fusible link  70  is exposed to temperatures associated with fires and the fusible material between plate members  70   a  and  70   b  melts, levers  72  will urge plates  70   a  and  70   b  to separate in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, and will further rotate about groove engaging portions  92  and to disengage from groove  80 . 
     To improve the injection of levers  72  and lever support  74  from sprinkler head body  12 , ejector member  76  is positioned beneath lever support  74 , between lever support  74  and deflector assembly  22 . In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 3, ejector member  76  preferably comprises an “E” shape member with a base  105  and two outer leg portions  106  and  108 . Leg portions  106  and  108  are generally aligned in a common plane with base  105 . A middle leg portion  110  of ejector member  76  is bent inwardly from legs  106  and  108  toward deflector assembly  22  (FIGS.  3  and  14 ). When trigger assembly  24  is mounted to sprinkler head body  12   a , ejector member  76  is positioned between lever support  74  and deflector assembly  22 , with legs  106  and  108  of ejector member  76  engaging groove  80 . Further, ejector member  76  is positioned such that body  105  is positioned beneath the lower side  82   a  of web  82 . In this manner, when sprinkler head assembly  10  is exposed to temperatures associated with a fire and the fusible material between plates  70   a  and  70   b  melt, levers  72  will urge plates  70   a  and  70   b  to separate along the line of direction shown in FIG.  3  and ejector member  76  will pivot about legs  106  and  108  to urge lever support  74  and levers  72  to eject outwardly from sprinkler head body  12   a . As a result, trigger assembly  24  is quickly ejected from the path of the deflector assembly  22 , and deflector assembly is quickly moved to its extended position under the pressure of the water. 
     Referring to FIG. 15, a second embodiment of sprinkler assembly  210  is illustrated. Sprinkler  210  is of similar construction to the previous embodiment and includes a base  212 , with threaded portions  214  and  218 , and a transverse passage  216  which defines an inlet opening  216   a  on one end of base  212  and an outlet opening  216   b.    
     Similar to the previous embodiment, sprinkler  210  includes a deflector assembly  222  and a trigger assembly  224 , which includes an ejector member  276  to improve the ejection of trigger assembly  224  and, more particularly, of levers  272  and lever support  274  when heat sensitive assembly  270  is triggered. 
     Ejector member  276  includes an E-shaped portion  305 , with outer leg portions  306  and  308  and a medial leg portion  310 , similar to the previous embodiment. In addition, ejector member  276  includes a connector portion  312  which includes a central opening  314  to permit set screw  202  of lever support  274  to engage recessed opening  204  of deflector assembly  222  in a similar manner to set screw  102  of the previous embodiment. Positioned on opposed sides of the central opening  314  are a pair of arms  316  and  318  which extend through openings  282   b  of base portion  282  of lever support  274  and are preferably bent to provide a snap fit coupling between ejector member  276  and lever support  274 . In this manner, when heat sensitive assembly  270  is triggered by exposure to temperatures associated with a fire, and the fusible members  270   a  and  270   b  are decoupled, levers  272  urge fusible members  270   a  and  270   b  to separate along the line of direction indicated by the arrows in FIG.  15 . Once separated, the pressure of the set screw  202  on the deflector assembly  222  is released, thus permitting deflector assembly  222  under the pressure of the water from outlet opening  216   b  to move from its retracted position within cavity  220  to an extended position which urges ejector member  276  to pivot about legs  306  and  308 . Ejector member  276  in turn urges lever support  274  and levers  272  to eject outwardly from sprinkler head body  212 . 
     It should be understood that the foregoing is a description of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations, modifications, and improvements may be made with out departing from the spirit or scope of the invention disclosed herein. For example, a person of having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that other trigger or fusible links or spring assemblies may be used with this sprinkler head assembly and, further, that sprinkler heads having varying internal components which differ from those depicted in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  13 , and  14  may employ the improved deflector assembly, trigger assembly, and/or ejector of the present invention. In addition, the overall shape of the ejector member and blade members may be varied to achieve a similar effect. For example, the ejector member and lever support may be formed as a single member with the ejector member arms being formed, for example, as part of the lever support base portion. Furthermore, the deflector assembly ( 22  or  222 ) may include a single blade member or more than two blade members. Consequently, the scope of protection afforded the present invention is to be measured by the claims which follow in the breadth of interpretation which the law allows.

Technology Category: 7