Sprinkler head

Abstract

A sprinkler head for a sprinkler system including a pipe section, a sealing member provided over a pipe section discharge opening, an abutment connected to the pipe section via a support element, and thermal release element disposed between the abutment and sealing member. A triggering means controls active thermal triggering of the thermal release element and includes an electrical circuit board having a controller, an electric power supply, and an electrical conduction path along the thermal release element. The electrical circuit board is in electrical contact with the sealing member and support element. The abutment and sealing member are electrically connected to the electrical conduction path. Current fed by the power supply through the support element, the abutment, the electric conduction path, and sealing member is produced by means of the controller, causes active heating and thus a triggering of the thermal release element.

Claims

1. A sprinkler head for a sprinkler system, comprising: a pipe section for a sprinkler liquid, wherein at a first end the pipe section is configured for connection to a coupler of a sprinkler pipeline of the sprinkler system; and wherein at a second end the pipe section has a discharge opening; a sealing member made of an electrically conductive material and cooperating with a seal for sealing off the discharge opening of the pipe section; an abutment section rigidly connected to the pipe section via a support element, wherein the support element and the abutment section are made of electrically conductive material and are electrically conductively connected to one another; a thermal release element disposed between the abutment section and the sealing member such that in a normal position, the sealing member is held by the thermal release element in a position in which the sealing member cooperates with the seal to seal off the discharge opening of the pipe section, and such that in a triggered position in which the thermal release element has been thermally triggered, the sealing member is released from the position in which the sealing member seals off the discharge opening of the pipe section; wherein a triggering means for a controlled active thermal triggering of the thermal release element by actively heating the thermal release element is provided, and the triggering means comprises: an electrical circuit board on which a controller is arranged, wherein the electrical circuit board is provided directly on the sprinkler head, wherein the electrical circuit board has a top side and a bottom side, and one of the top side and the bottom side is in electrical contact with the sealing member and the other of the top side and the bottom side is in electrical contact with the support element; an electric power supply provided directly on the circuit board; an electrical conduction path having an electrical resistance along the thermal release element; wherein the abutment section and the sealing member are each electrically connected to the electrical conduction path leading along the thermal release element so that a flow of current fed by the electric power supply through the support element, the abutment section, the electrical conduction path guided along the thermal release element, and the sealing member is produced by the controller on the electrical circuit board causing an active heating and thus a triggering of the thermal release element.

2. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a communications interface for wireless communication of the controller with a digital counterpart arranged on the electrical circuit board.

3. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the thermal release element is a glass ampoule filled with a triggering liquid, and wherein the electrical conduction path is formed by one of an electrically conductive coating and an electrically conductive collar provided on an outer surface of the glass ampoule and an electrical conductor guided inside the glass ampoule.

4. A sprinkler head for a sprinkler system, comprising: a pipe section for a sprinkler liquid, wherein at a first end the pipe section is configured for connection to a coupler of a sprinkler pipeline of the sprinkler system; and wherein at a second end the pipe section has a discharge opening; a sealing member made of an electrically conductive material and cooperating with a seal for sealing off the discharge opening of the pipe section; an abutment section rigidly connected to the pipe section via a support element, wherein the support element and the abutment section are made of electrically conductive material and are electrically conductively connected to one another; a thermal release element disposed between the abutment section and the sealing member such that in a normal position, the sealing member is held by the thermal release element in a position in which the sealing member cooperates with the seal to seal off the discharge opening of the pipe section, and such that in a triggered position in which the thermal release element has been thermally triggered, the sealing member is released from the position in which the sealing member seals off the discharge opening of the pipe section; wherein a triggering means for a controlled active thermal triggering of the thermal release element by actively heating the thermal release element is provided, and the triggering means comprises: an electrical circuit board on which a controller is arranged; wherein the electrical circuit board has a top side and a bottom side, wherein one of the top side and the bottom side is in electrical contact with the sealing member and the other of the top side and the bottom side is in electrical contact with the support element; and wherein the electrical circuit board is clamped with contact sections on the top side of the electrical circuit board and on the bottom side of the electrical circuit board between clamping sections of the sealing member and the support element and is held thereby in electrical contact with the sealing member; an electric power supply; and an electrical conduction path having an electrical resistance along the thermal release element; wherein the abutment section and the sealing member are each electrically connected to the electrical conduction path leading along the thermal release element so that a flow of current fed by the electric power supply through the support element, the abutment section, the electrical conduction path guided along the thermal release element, and the sealing member is produced by the controller on the electrical circuit board causing an active heating and thus a triggering of the thermal release element.

5. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to conduct a measuring current via a circuit formed by the support element, the abutment section, the electrical conduction path leading along the thermal release element, and the sealing member in order to deduce a status of the thermal release element from one or more of a determined current flow and voltage.

6. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a deflector and a distributor plate for distributing the sprinkler liquid.

7. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein a size and a shape of the electrical circuit board will not hinder a desired distribution of the sprinkler liquid in the event of release.

8. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, further comprising a spring element arranged between the support element and the sealing member, and wherein electrical insulation is provided in regions in which the spring element bears against the support element and in regions in which the spring element bears against the sealing member.

9. The sprinkler head according to claim 1, wherein an outer contour of the electrical circuit board will not hinder a desired distribution of the sprinkler liquid in the event of release.

10. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, further comprising a communications interface for wireless communication of the controller with a digital counterpart arranged on the electrical circuit board.

11. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, wherein the thermal release element is a glass ampoule filled with a triggering liquid, and wherein the electrical conduction path is formed by one of an electrically conductive coating and an electrically conductive collar provided on an outer surface of the glass ampoule and an electrical conductor guided inside the glass ampoule.

12. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to conduct a measuring current via a circuit formed by the support element, the abutment section, the electrical conduction path leading along the thermal release element, and the sealing member in order to deduce a status of the thermal release element from one or more of a determined current flow and voltage.

13. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, further comprising a deflector and a distributor plate for distributing the sprinkler liquid.

14. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, wherein a size and a shape of the electrical circuit board will not hinder a desired distribution of the sprinkler liquid in the event of release.

15. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, further comprising a spring element arranged between the support element and the sealing member, and wherein electrical insulation is provided in regions in which the spring element bears against the support element and in regions in which the spring element bears against the sealing member.

16. The sprinkler head according to claim 4, wherein an outer contour of the electrical circuit board will not hinder a desired distribution of the sprinkler liquid in the event of release.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, in which reference is made to the attached figures. Shown in these figures are:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a sprinkler head configured according to the invention, in a first exemplary embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 a longitudinal section of the sprinkler head of FIG. 1, taken along the intersection line A-A of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows marked along the cutting line;

(4) FIG. 3 an enlarged illustration of the encircled area marked B in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 an enlarged illustration of the encircled area marked C in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 a partially cut away schematic side view of a sprinkler head according to the invention, in a second exemplary embodiment; and

(7) FIG. 6 an enlarged illustration of the encircled area marked D in FIG. 5.

(8) The figures show schematic illustrations of possible design variants of the invention which serve to explain the invention and are by no means true to scale or detailed in all respects. In the figures—including in the various embodiments—identical or identically functioning parts are denoted by identical reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) To begin with, a first design variant of a sprinkler head 1 according to the invention will be described, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Sprinkler head 1 has a largely integrally formed body in which a pipe section 2 for a sprinkler liquid is formed and which includes a support element 6 in which an abutment section 7 is arranged. Pipe section 2 is surrounded by a substantially cylindrical wall, which is provided with an external thread 3, on a side located at a first end of the pipe section 2, to enable said pipe section to be screwed into an open pipe end of a sprinkler pipe or into a pipeline end of a sprinkler pipeline, which is provided with a corresponding internal thread. At a second end axially opposite the first end, pipe section 2 is provided with a discharge opening 4 from which sprinkler liquid is discharged from sprinkler head 1 in the event of actuation. This discharge opening 4 is sealed by a sealing member 5, which cooperates with a sealing element in such a way, as described in more detail below, that when the sprinkler head is coupled to a sprinkler pipe or to a sprinkler pipeline and when sprinkler liquid is present in pipe section 2, the liquid cannot escape through the discharge opening 4. Sealing member 5 is held in this sealing position by a thermal release element 8 clamped axially between abutment section 7 and sealing member 5, the thermal release element 8 in this exemplary embodiment being a closed glass ampoule filled with a thermal actuating liquid. Such glass ampoules are sufficiently well known and are even produced in large quantities by this applicant, for example. Thus, there is no need for a detailed description of the general structure and functioning of said ampoules.

(10) The thermal release element 8 in the form of a glass ampoule is provided with an electrically deposited coating 9 applied to its surface, which extends lengthwise over the thermal release element 8 in the form of a glass ampoule. In particular, support element 6 and the abutment section 7 inserted therein, in this case screwed therein, are made of an electrically conductive metal, the abutment section 7 being screwed into support element 6 so as to produce an electrical connection between these two components. Sealing member 5 is likewise made of an electrically conductive metal. These elements may be made of brass, in particular, but they may also be made of various other electrically conductive materials, in particular metals, such as copper or steel. As is clear from FIG. 3 in particular, a spring element in the form of a disk spring 15 is inserted between sealing member 5 and an outer wall, which extends around pipe section 2 and which is considered a part of support element 6. This spring element maintains a preload in the axial direction on the thermal release element in the form of glass ampoule 8 by pressing it against abutment section 7 with a predetermined force. Furthermore, disk spring 15, which is provided here with a coating of a non-conductive and seal-producing material, for example a Teflon coating, provides for a sealing of pipe section 2 in the region of discharge opening 4, which is sealed off by sealing member 5. In addition, due to its electrically insulating coating, the coated disk spring number 15 in its intermediate position insulates sealing member 5 electrically against support element 6 along this mechanical connection, which—as will be described later—is of essential significance to the invention.

(11) Another component of sprinkler head 1 according to the invention is a circuit board 10, which may be designed in particular in the form of a conventional printed circuit board or PCB (printed circuit board) and which is equipped with a controller, symbolized here in the form of a chip 12, and with an electric power supply, represented here in the form of a battery 11. As FIG. 4 shows, in particular, circuit board 10 is provided with contact areas denoted by number 14 on its top side and on its bottom side, with circuit board 10 electrically contacting sealing member 5 with one of the contact areas 14 and electrically contacting support element 6 with another of the contact areas 14. The contact areas 14 are connected, in a manner not detailed here, to conductor tracks which are formed on circuit board 10 and via which an electric voltage supplied by battery 11 can be applied, switched via controller 12. Due to this applied electric voltage between the opposing contact areas 14, an electric current can then flow through support element 6, abutment section 7, electrically conductive coating 9, and sealing member 5. This electric current can be selected by controller 12 such that, due to the resistance of electrical coating 9, the current heats the thermal release element 8 in the form of the glass ampoule to an actuating temperature or beyond, so that it is actuated, i.e. in the case of the glass ampoule, the pressure built up in the actuating liquid causes the ampoule to burst, thereby releasing sealing member 5, which then, also driven along by the spring force of the disk spring number 15, moves away from discharge opening 4, thereby opening up the path for discharge of the sprinkler liquid. The sprinkler liquid then strikes a deflector and distributor plate 13, which ensures that the sprinkler fluid is distributed over a large area in a known manner. To ensure that the electric current actually flows through the electrically conductive coating 9 on thermal release element 8, the electrical insulation between sealing member 5 and support element 6 in the region of disk spring 15 therebetween is of great importance; otherwise, an electrically conductive connection formed there would result in a short-circuit.

(12) Thus, clearly an embodiment of a sprinkler head 1 is provided here which, controlled by controller 12, is capable of independently effecting an active actuation of thermal release element 8 by conducting current through the electrically conductive coating 9 on the glass ampoule via the circuit as described above, which current leads to heating and thus to an active thermal triggering of release element 8 due to the electrical resistance of coating 9. In this exemplary embodiment, controller 12 is advantageously connected to a wireless communications interface (not shown here in detail), via which data can be exchanged, advantageously bidirectionally, with a corresponding counterpart. Via this wireless communications interface, controller 12 can receive an actuation command, for example, in response to which it switches the current flow as described above, thereby effecting the actuation of the sprinkler head by actuating thermal release element 8.

(13) It may also be provided that, by means of controller 12, a current that is below the current intensity required to trigger thermal release element 8 can be transmitted via the circuit as described above and can be used as a detection current or measuring current to obtain information about the state of thermal release element 8, in particular to determine, for example, whether said release element is intact or has already been triggered or may be defective. Results obtained from such measurements can in turn be made available by controller 12 to a higher-level system via the wireless communications interface not shown here. Controller 12 can likewise emit a signal, for example, if the electrical energy stored in battery 11 falls below a critical threshold, indicating the need to replace battery 11.

(14) FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative design variant in which the configuration and the circuit to be formed are basically identical to those described above, so that reference may be made to the above description in this regard. The only difference here is that the electrical contacting of circuit board 10 to the elements sealing member 5 and support element 6 is different. In this case, contact springs number 16 are arranged on the two opposing sides of circuit board 10 and press against the respective elements to be contacted with a mechanical contact pressure. The advantage of such an arrangement is that circuit board 10 does not necessarily have to be mechanically clamped between sealing member 5 and support element 6 to ensure a reliable electrical contact. It can, for example, be pushed laterally into an existing slot, in which case the contact springs 16 provide a mechanical hold and reliable electrical contact. This electrical contact can be maintained even if a certain displacement of sealing member 5 relative to support element 6 results due to thermal expansion, for example.

(15) From the above description of exemplary embodiments, it has once again become clear that the sprinkler head of the invention, formed as a compact unit, is simple in configuration and is ideally suited for integration into a system that offers additional functions for extinguishing fires or for preventively charging spaces in the vicinity of a fire source with sprinkler liquid by actively triggering individual sprinkler heads. Above all, however, the capability of passive triggering of the sprinkler head continues to remain unaffected. Here, the function is identical to that of conventional, purely passively triggered sprinkler heads. Thus, if the ambient temperature exceeds a critical temperature, in particular if it reaches or even exceeds the range of the triggering temperature of thermal release element 8, this temperature increase will trigger the thermal release element 8, so that the discharge opening 4 of pipe section 2 is opened and sprinkler liquid, which reaches said discharge opening via the sprinkler line to which sprinkler head 1 is connected, can be discharged.

(16) It is further apparent that the sprinkler head 1 of the invention is particularly well suited for retrofitting into existing sprinkler systems that do not yet offer the option of active triggering of the sprinkler heads. This retrofitting can be accomplished, in particular, without having to install extra electrical supply lines or electrical communication lines for this purpose (particularly if printed circuit board 10 is equipped with a wireless communications interface).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 1 sprinkler head 2 pipe section 3 external thread 4 discharge opening 5 sealing member 6 support element 7 abutment section 8 thermal release element 9 electrically conductive coating 10 electrical circuit board 11 battery 12 chip 13 deflector and distributor plate 14 contact area 15 disk spring 16 contact spring