Horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler

Abstract

A horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler includes a sprinkler body, a sealing assembly, a sleeve body, a yoke, a load screw, levers, a soldered link, a slide plate, a deflector support member, a deflector, and a spring. When ambient temperature in an occupancy reaches a predetermined temperature, the soldered link fails, the levers release, and the yoke and the load screw are forced away from the sprinkler body. The spring forces the slide plate and the deflector support member away from an inner wall of the sprinkler body toward an opening at an outer end of the sleeve body, and the deflector support member and the deflector protrude from the outer end of the sleeve body. The sealing assembly is released from a sealed state, and the fire protection sprinkler outputs fluid from a fluid supply to the occupancy.

Claims

1. A horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler configured (i) to change from a non-actuated state to an actuated state when ambient temperature in an occupancy reaches a predetermined temperature, and (ii), when in the actuated state, to receive a fluid from a fluid supply and to output the fluid to the occupancy in the actuated state, the fire protection sprinkler comprising: (A) a sprinkler body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner wall near the inlet, the inlet and the outlet defining a fluid passage; (B) a sealing assembly that has an outer surface that is configured to seal the outlet of the sprinkler body when the sealing assembly is in a sealed state and the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state; (C) a sleeve body, having (a) an inner end that is secured to an outer surface of the sprinkler body, and (b) an outer end with an opening; (D) a yoke mounted in the opening of the sleeve body, the yoke substantially spanning a diameter of the opening of the sleeve body; (E) a load screw configured to be positioned in a loaded position, in which the load screw is urged by the yoke toward the outer surface of the sealing assembly, thereby holding the sealing assembly in the sealed state when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state; (F) levers configured to move from (a) a retaining position, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, in which the levers hold (i) the yoke in the opening of the sleeve body and (ii) the load screw in the loaded position, and (b) a released position, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, in which the levers do not hold either of (i) the yoke in the opening of the sleeve body and (ii) the load screw in the loaded position; (G) a soldered link configured (i) to maintain the levers in the retaining position when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, and (ii) to fail when ambient temperature in the occupancy reaches the predetermined temperature and the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, thereby releasing the levers so that the levers move from the retaining position to the released position; (H) a slide plate configured to move from (i) a retracted position near the inner wall of the sprinkler body when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, to (ii) an extended position near the outlet of the sleeve body, the slide plate having an outer surface, and a central aperture that surrounds a portion of the fluid passage of the sprinkler body when the slide plate is in the retracted position; (I) a deflector support member that is connected to the outer surface of the slide plate and extends from the outer surface of the slide plate toward the opening at the outer end of the sleeve body; (J) a deflector that is (i) mounted on the deflector support member and (ii) positioned between the load screw and the outer surface of the sealing assembly; and (K) a spring provided in the sprinkler body between the inner wall of the sprinkler body and the slide plate, the spring being configured to force (i) the slide plate, and (ii) the deflector support member away from the inner wall of the sprinkler body toward the opening of at the outer end of the sleeve body when the soldered link fails and the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, the deflector support member and the deflector protrude from outer end of the sleeve body.

2. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the deflector support member includes: (a) at least one tower; and (b) at least one guide pin that is slidably retained in the at least one tower, and is configured to move from a retained position, in which the at least one guide pin is housed in the at least one tower, to an extended position, in which the at least one guide pin extends from the at least one tower, wherein the deflector is mounted to the at least one guide pin, wherein the slide plate has at least one aperture configured to retain that at least one guide pin and the at least one tower, and wherein, when the soldered link fails and the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, the spring forces the at least one guide pin to move from the retained position to the extended position.

3. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 2, wherein a subassembly, including the at least one tower, the at least one guide pin, and the deflector, is configured to move: (a) from (i) a housed position, in which the subassembly is housed within the sleeve body and the at least one guide pin is housed within the at least one tower, to (ii) a partially-protruded position, in which the at least one tower protrudes partly from the sleeve body, the at least one guide pin is in the retained position within the at least one tower, and the deflector is spaced from the sleeve body an initial protrusion distance; and (b) from (i) the partially-protruded position to (ii) a fully-protruded position, in which the at least one tower protrudes partly from the sleeve, the at least one guide pin is in the extended position, and the deflector is spaced from the sleeve body a final protrusion distance that is greater than the initial protrusion distance.

4. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 2, wherein the at least one guide pin is configured to be inserted through the at least one aperture on the slide plate and is secured to the slide plate with a nut.

5. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the sealing assembly comprises: (a) a spring washer seated at the outlet of the sprinkler body; and (b) a closure element received in the washer and sealing the outlet of the sprinkler body, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, the load screw retains the closure element and the spring washer in a sealed position in the outlet of the sprinkler body.

6. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 5, further comprising (L) a ball that is provided between the load screw and the closure element, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, the load screw, via the ball and the closure element, causes the sprinkler washer to deflect.

7. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body has a retaining flange that defines the opening at the outer end of the sleeve body, and wherein the yoke is self-centering and self-seating on the retaining flange, and has terraced tabs, including a top tab that serves as a vertical seating medium, a middle tab that serves as a horizontal centering medium with an inner diameter of the retaining flange, and a bottom tab that serves as a load bearing medium for the levers when the levers are in the retaining position.

8. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising: (L) a diffuser, attached to the deflector and positioned between the load screw and the seal assembly, the diffuser including a convex solid portion positioned so that a center of the convex solid portion aligns with an axis of the fluid passage in the sprinkler body, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, the diffuser transmits the force from the load screw to the seal assembly, and when the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state and outputs the fluid received from the fluid supply, the fluid strikes the convex solid portion of the diffuser.

9. The horizontal sidewall sprinkler of claim 8, wherein the deflector includes: (a) a horizontally extending upper planar portion extending above the axis of the fluid passage; and (b) a vertical portion having an aperture that is positioned (i) above the convex solid portion of the diffuser and (ii) below the horizontally extending upper planar portion of the deflector relative to a direction of fluid flow along the axis of the fluid passage, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state, the fluid passes through the aperture of the vertical portion of the deflector.

10. The horizontal sidewall sprinkler of claim 9, wherein the vertical portion of the deflector has one or more peripheral apertures, each of the one or more peripheral apertures being positioned downstream from the convex solid portion of the diffuser relative to the direction of fluid flow along the axis of the fluid passage.

11. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 10, wherein a bottom edge of the vertical portion of the deflector includes a conical slot.

12. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 10, wherein an edge of the horizontally extending upper planar portion of the deflector that is closest to the sprinkler body includes a slot.

13. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 8, wherein the diffuser has an oblong shape.

14. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 8, wherein a length of the diffuser is greater than a width of the diffuser.

15. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the fire protection sprinkler is one of a residential sidewall fire protection sprinkler, a sidewall standard spray fire protection sprinkler, and an extended coverage sidewall spray fire protection sprinkler, and wherein the fire protection sprinkler is configured to be installed in an occupancy that is one of a residential occupancy, a light hazard occupancy, and an ordinary hazard occupancy.

16. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a nominal K-factor of the fire protection sprinkler is one of 4.2 gpm/psi.sup.1/2, 5.6 gpm/psi.sup.1/2, or 8.0 gpm/psi.sup.1/2.

17. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a coverage area of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 2.44 meters by 2.44 meters and up to and including 4.88 meters by 6.10 meters.

18. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a coverage area of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 2.44 meters by 2.44 meters and up to and including 5.49 meters by 6.71 meters.

19. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a coverage area of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 2.44 meters by 2.44 meters and up to and including 4.88 meters by 7.32 meters.

20. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a minimum flow rate of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 45.42 liters per minute.

21. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a minimum flow rate of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 98.42 liters per minute.

22. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a minimum pressure of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 56.54 kilopascals.

23. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a minimum pressure of the fire protection sprinkler is at least 73.08 kilopascals.

24. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein a minimum pressure of the fire protection sprinkler is 1206.58 kilopascals or less.

25. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the deflector support member comprises a frame that is wishbone shaped, the frame having two arms that are attached to the slide plate, and having a top portion that is attached to the deflector.

26. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 25, wherein a width of each of the arms of the frame is the equal to a width of a side of the deflector that is parallel to the arms of the frame.

27. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 26, wherein the fire protection sprinkler is configured to be installed in a wall of the occupancy, and wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is in the non-actuated state, the fire protection sprinkler is configured to sit within a recess having a depth of 88.9 mm formed between 38 mm by 89 mm studs in the wall.

28. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 25, wherein the arms of the frame are attached to the slide plate by rivets.

29. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 25, wherein a width of each of the arms of the frame is greater than a width of a side of the deflector that is parallel to the arms of the frame.

30. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler of claim 1, wherein, when the soldered link fails and the fire protection sprinkler is in the actuated state: (i) the levers are released from the retaining position to the released position, thereby releasing the yoke and the load screw, and a force of the fluid moves the yoke and the load screw out of and away from the fire protection sprinkler; (ii) the force of the spring moves the slide plate outward, from the inner wall of the sprinkler body toward the opening of the sleeve body; and (iii) the force of the fluid moves the deflector away from the slide plate to a protruded position relative to the outer end of the sleeve body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a top view of a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 1B-1B of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIG. 1A.

(2) FIG. 1C is a top view of a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler according to another embodiment, and FIGS. 1D and 1E are cross-sectional views taken along section lines 1D-1D and 1E-1E, respectively, of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIG. 1C.

(3) FIGS. 2A to 2C are a top view, a cross-sectional view taken along section line 2B-2B, and an isometric view, respectively, of a subassembly of a diffuser, a deflector, guide pins, and a slide plate of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIGS. 1C to 1E.

(4) FIGS. 3A to 3C are a top view, a cross-sectional view taken along section line 3B-3B, and a detail view, respectively, of a subassembly of the diffuser and the deflector shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C.

(5) FIGS. 4A to 4E are various perspective views of the deflector shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

(6) FIGS. 5A to 5D are a top view, a side view, a cross-sectional view taken along section line 5C-5C, and a detail view of the diffuser shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

(7) FIG. 6A is a top view of a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler according to an embodiment herein, and FIGS. 6B and 6C are cross-sectional views taken along section lines 6B-6B and 6C-6C, respectively, of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIG. 6A.

(8) FIGS. 7A and 7B are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a sub-assembly including a deflector, a frame, and a slide plate of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, and FIGS. 7C and 7D are cross-sectional views taken along section lines 7C-7C and 7D-7D, respectively, of the subassembly shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

(9) FIGS. 8A to 8F are a rear view, a detail view, a top view, a cross-sectional side view, a side view, and a front view respectively, of the deflector shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D. More specifically, FIG. 8B shows a detail view of a portion of the deflector shown in FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8D shows a cross-sectional view taken along section line 8D-8D of the deflector shown in FIG. 8C.

(10) FIG. 9A is a top view of a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler according to yet another embodiment herein, and FIGS. 9B and 9C are cross-sectional views taken along section lines 9B-9B and 9C-9C, respectively, of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIG. 9A.

(11) FIGS. 10A and 10B are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a subassembly including a deflector, a frame, and a slide plate of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, and FIGS. 10C and 10D are partial cross-sectional views taken along section lines 10C-10C and 10D-10D, respectively, of the subassembly shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

(12) FIGS. 11A to 11F are a rear view, a detail view, a top view, a cross-sectional side view, a side view, and a front view, respectively, of the deflector shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D. More specifically, FIG. 11B shows a detail view of a portion of the deflector shown in FIG. 11A, and FIG. 11D shows a cross-sectional view taken along section line 11D-11D of the deflector shown in FIG. 11C.

(13) FIGS. 12 to 14 are isometric views of the horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B in different stages of deployment.

(14) Any reference numeral that appears in different figures represents the same element in those figures, even if that element is not described separately with respect to each figure. It should be noted that most of the figures that form part of this disclosure show the outlet of the sprinkler body of the fire protection sprinkler facing upward. The outlet, however, would be oriented to face sideward (i.e., the outlet would be positioned for output of water horizontally). In addition, except where otherwise noted, all directional references to up and down, top and bottom, or upper and lower, etc., relate to the orientation of the drawing being referenced, and not necessarily to the orientation of the fire protection sprinkler when installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) An actuation structure and mechanism of a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler according to one embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler is preferably installed as a concealed fire protection sprinkler and may be constructed in different sizes, most preferably with a K-factor (a term known in the art, and defined by K=Q/(?p).sup.1/2, where Q is the flow rate of fluid flowing from the outlet of the fire protection sprinkler in gallons per minute, and p is the residual pressure at the inlet of the fire protection sprinkler in pounds per square inch) of 4.2, 5.6, or 8.0 gpm/psi.sup.1/2, although the K-factor is not limited to this range of values. That is, fire protection sprinklers having K factors from at least 2 gpm/(psi).sup.1/2 to 25 gpm/psi.sup.1/2 or more are within the scope of the invention. The horizontal fire protection sidewall sprinkler, according to this embodiment, may be useful in light hazard, ordinary hazard, and residential applications. These terms are also known in the art.

(16) As shown in FIG. 1B, a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler 1 has a sprinkler body 2 provided with an inlet passage 3 near an inlet end 2a that connects to a conduit (not shown) for supply of a pressurized fire-extinguishing fluid, such as water. An outlet 5 is at an outlet end 2b of the sprinkler body 2, and is closed (i.e., sealed) by a seal assembly that includes a spring washer 16 seated in the outlet, and a closure element 12 received in the washer 16. As shown in FIG. 1B, a lower portion 12a (i.e., an inner surface) of the closure element 12 has an oblique shape. The seal assembly keeps the outlet 5 of the sprinkler body 2 closed prior to actuation of the fire protection sprinkler 1, as described in more detail below.

(17) The fire protection sprinkler also has a sleeve body 9 secured to the sprinkler body 2 by means of, for example, threads. A slide plate 10, described in more detail below, is located near an upper surface 2c of the sprinkler body 2 (in the unactuated state), and has a central aperture 10a to allow the slide plate 10 to fit over the outlet end 2b of the sprinkler body 2, as shown in FIG. 1B. Two additional apertures 10b are provided in the slide plate 10 to receive towers 13, each tower 13 having a lower portion 13a that is approximately cylindrical, and an upper portion 13b that is conical. The towers 13 each house a guide pin 14, and the two guide pins 14 connect to and support a deflector 17 (shown in FIGS. 1B and 12-14).

(18) A yoke 7 spans most of the width of an interior of the sleeve body 9, and urges a load screw 15 downward against an upper surface 12b of the closure element 12, as shown in FIG. 1B. The yoke 7 is held in place prior to actuation by two levers 4 that are joined by a soldered link 6. A spring 11, for example, a conical compression spring, is provided in the sprinkler body 2, between the upper surface 2c of the sprinkler body 2 and the slide plate 10, and presses the slide plate 10 and the guide pins 14 upward. The spring 11 is shown in a flat compressed state in FIG. 1B.

(19) When the fire protection sprinkler 1 is fully assembled and in an unactuated state, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1B and described below, deflector 17 is positioned between the load screw 15 and the closure element 12. The load screw 15 thus also presses the slide plate 10 toward the upper surface 2c of the sprinkler body 2.

(20) As known by those skilled in the art, failure of the soldered link 6 may occur due to ambient temperature reaching a predetermined temperature, and results in the release of the levers 4, the yoke 7, the load screw 15, and the closure element 1, as each element is forced out of and away from the fire protection sprinkler 1 by a force of the fluid. In addition, at this time, the force of the fluid moves the deflector 17 away from the slide plate 10 (in an upward direction in FIG. 1B), and the spring 11 forces the slide plate 10 outward from a wall in which the fire protection sprinkler 1 is installed, forcing the guide pins 14 to extend from the towers 13, and moving the deflector 17 to a fully extended position to deliver the fluid to the protected area in a spray pattern.

(21) In this embodiment, instead of using relatively long guide pins 14, the guide pins 14 are relatively short and are made stationary by directly attaching the guide pins 14 to the slide plate 10. Nonetheless, it is within the scope of the invention to use relatively long guide pins 14.

(22) A flat concealed cover plate 8 conceals the fire protection sprinkler 1 hen the fire protection sprinkler 1 is unactuated, as shown in FIG. 1B.

(23) This embodiment provides for two phases of deflector deployment after the soldered link 6 fails, and the yoke 7, the levers 4, and the closure element 12 are forced away (i.e., ejected) from the sprinkler body 2, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. In particular, FIG. 12 shows the fire protection sprinkler 1 prior to deflector deployment, and after failure of the soldered link 6, and ejection of the yoke 7, the levers 4, and the closure element 12. FIG. 13 shows the first phase of deflector deployment (note that a portion of the deflector 17 rests on the tower 13). FIG. 14 shows the second phase of deflector deployment (note that the guide pin 14 protrudes from the tower 13, and the deflector 17 is completely outside of the sleeve body 9).

(24) This double phase deployment assures that the deflector 17 achieves sufficient protrusion from a surface of the wall, and allows water to wet adjacent corners in an area to be protected to at least 0.763 meter (30 inches) above a floor elevation.

(25) To further assure complete deployment of the deflector assembly, the spring 11 drives the slide plate 10 outward (toward the right, in FIG. 14) against a retaining flange 9a provided on the sleeve body 9.

(26) The slide plate 10, the guide pins 14, the deflector 17, and the yoke 7 form a sub-assembly that, as discussed in the arrangement of this embodiment, can provide the following advantageous effects. Because the slide plate 10 slides forward (i.e., toward a right side in FIGS. 12-14), the deflector 17 protrudes an initial distance from the surface of the wall. Then, when the guide pins 14 slide in the towers 13 to a fully deployed position, the distance by which the deflector 17 protrudes from the surface of the wall increases. This arrangement reduces an amount of water that is deflected back onto the surface of the wall (i.e., a back wall water wash) to a satisfactory level. The guide pins 14 are retained by the towers 13, and both interface with each other via the taper-taper feature, as disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,077.

(27) The yoke 7 is self-centering and self-seating within/on a retaining flange 9a of the sleeve body 9, and has terraced tabs on both ends, as shown in FIG. 1B. The terraced tabs include a top tab 7a that serves as a vertical seating medium, a middle tab 7b that serves as horizontal centering medium within an inner diameter of the retaining flange 9a, and a bottom tab 7c that serves as a load bearing medium for the levers 4. The top tab 7a and the middle tab 7b can greatly simplify the assembly process, thereby, reducing assembly time, and eliminating the potential for misalignment.

(28) FIGS. 1C to 1E show a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler 100 according to another embodiment. Similar to the fire protection sprinkler 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fire protection sprinkler 100, shown in FIG. 1D, has a sprinkler body 110 provided with an inlet passage 101, and an outlet 105 that is closed (i.e., sealed) by a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a spring washer 120 seated at the outlet 105, and a closure element 140 received in the spring washer 120. As shown in FIG. 1E, the closure element 140 has an oblique lower surface 140a (i.e., the right-side surface in FIG. 1E), in part.

(29) The fire protection sprinkler also has a sleeve body 190 secured to the sprinkler body 110, and a subassembly 180 that is shown in detail in FIGS. 2A to 2C. As shown in FIG. 2B, the subassembly 180 includes a slide plate 220 located near an upper surface 110c of sprinkler body 110 (in the unactuated state) when assembled with the sprinkler body 110, and having a central aperture 220a to allow the slide plate 220 to fit over an outlet end 110b of the sprinkler body 110, as shown in FIG. 1D. Two additional apertures are provided in the slide plate 220 to receive towers 250, each tower 250 having a lower portion 250a that is approximately cylindrical, and an upper portion 250b that is conical. The towers 250 each house a guide pin 230, and the guide pins 230 bear and support a deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 that is described below in more detail in connection with FIGS. 3A to 3C. The subassembly 180 is connected to the guide pins 230 via, for example, hexagonal nuts 240.

(30) A yoke 195 spans most of the width of the interior of the sleeve body 190, and urges a load screw 160 downward (in FIG. 1D) toward an upper surface 140b of the closure element 140. The yoke 195 is held in place prior to actuation by two levers 130 that are joined by a soldered link 150. A spring 170, for example, a conical compression spring, is provided in the sprinkler body 110, between the upper surface 110c of the sprinkler body 110 and the subassembly 180. The spring 170 thus presses the slide plate 220 and the guide pins 230 upward (in FIG. 1D).

(31) The deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 is positioned between the load screw 160 and the closure element 140 when the fire protection sprinkler 100 is unactuated. The load screw 160 thus also presses the slide plate 220 toward the upper surface 110c of the sprinkler body 110 (the upper surface of the sprinkler body 110, in the orientation of FIG. 1D).

(32) Fusion of the soldered link 150 results in the release of the levers 130, the yoke 195, the load screw 160, and the closure element 140, as each element is forced out of and away from the fire protection sprinkler 100 by the force of the fluid. In addition, at this time, the spring 170 forces the slide plate 220 outward from the wall (upward in FIG. 1D), and forces the guide pins 230 to extend from the towers 250, moving the deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 to the proper position to deliver the fluid where needed. The fire protection sprinkler 100 further includes a guide pin 115, shown in FIG. 1E, that is fitted through a bottom surface 110d of the sprinkler body 110 into the sleeve body 190. The guide pin 115 helps to keep the slide plate 220 aligned during deployment of the deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 of the fire protection sprinkler 100.

(33) Similar to the embodiment discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B, this embodiment also provides for two phases of deflector deployment, after the soldered link 150 fails, and the yoke 195, the levers 130, and the closure element 140 are forced away (i.e. ejected) from the sprinkler body 110, assuring that the deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 achieves sufficient protrusion from a surface of the wall and allows the fluid (i.e., water) to wet adjacent corners to at least 0.763 meter (30 inches) above a floor elevation.

(34) As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the deflector/diffuser subassembly 210 includes a diffuser 310 that is rigidly staked by one or more stakes 330 to a deflector 320. The diffuser 310 is aligned with tips of the deflector 320 within, for example, a maximum of 0.254 mm (0.010 inch), as shown in FIG. 3A at reference numeral 325. A width 350 between a face 340 of the deflector and the stake 330 can be a minimum of 0.254 mm (0.010 inch). A flap width 360 of the stake 330 can be 2.03 mm (0.08 inch), and a diameter 370 of the stake 330 can be 6.60 to 6.73 mm (0.260 to 0.265 inch).

(35) FIGS. 4A to 4E show various views of the deflector 320 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The deflector 320 may, if desired, be identical to that described in Bulletin 148, K-8.0 F1FR EC-9 Horizontal Sidewall Sprinkler, published by the Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., of Liberty, South Carolina, United States, although the invention is not limited to use of that deflector.

(36) FIGS. 5A to 5D show various views of the diffuser 310 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the diffuser 310 includes a convex solid portion 310a that, prior to actuation, transmits the force of the load screw 160 to the closure element 140. During operation of the fire protection sprinkler 100, the fluid exiting the outlet 105 of the sprinkler body 110 strikes the convex solid portion 310a that provides the desired delivery of the fluid. A center of the convex sold portion 310a is located on the axis of the inlet passage 101 in the sprinkler body 110. A horizontally extending upper planar portion 320a of the deflector 320 extends above the axis of the inlet passage 101 when the fire protection sprinkler 100 is installed in a wall of an occupancy, and the fluid can pass the diffuser 310 through an aperture 320b in the deflector 320 that is provided (i) above the convex solid portion 210a of the diffuser 310 and (ii) below the upper planar portion 320a of the deflector 320. Additional apertures 320d are provided in a vertical portion 320c of the deflector 320 provided downstream from the convex solid portion 310a of the diffuser 310.

(37) As shown in FIG. 5A, the diffuser 310 has a length 510 and a width 520. As shown in FIG. 5C, the diffuser 310 has a base 310b with a height 550, and a top portion 310c with a height 540, a top radius 530, and a bottom radius 560. This structure for the diffuser 310 provides particularly high performance, and the shape thereof is accordingly shown in its proper proportions (although the invention is not limited to the use of this exact structure).

(38) The oblong shape of the diffuser 310 generates a sufficiently broad spray pattern that wets a far wall (i.e., a wall that opposes the wall in which the fire protection sprinkler 100 is installed) including both corners, several inches higher than the requirement set forth in UL 199 (i.e., higher than 0.763 meter (30 inches) above a floor elevation for an extended coverage light hazard (ECLH) type of fire protection sprinkler, for any room size up to 6.096 meters by 6.096 meters (20 feet by 20 feet)).

(39) The fire protection sprinkler 100 is preferably an extended coverage sidewall spray fire protection sprinkler, as defined by NFPA 13, having a nominal K-factor of 8.0 gpm/psi.sup.1/2, and permitted for use in light hazard occupancies. The fire protection sprinkler 100 can obtain a coverage area of 4.877 meters by 6.096 meters (16 feet by 20 feet). Further technical details of the fire protection sprinkler 100 are provided below in Tables 1 and 2. Of course, our invention is not limited by the technical details provided in these tables, and these tables are merely examples of this embodiment.

(40) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 MAXIMUM MAXIMUM SPRINKLER NOMINAL TEMPERATURE AMBIENT WATER IDENTIFICATION K-FACTOR THREAD RATING TEMPER- WORKING NUMBER US METRIC SIZE SPRINKLER COVER ATURE PRESSURE (SIN) 8.0 115 ? NPT or 165? F. 135? F 100? F. 175 PSI RA4762 ISO 7-R? (74? C.) (57? C.) (38? C.) (12 bar)

(41) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Coverage Area MAX. INSTALLED COVERAGE DEFLECTOR MIN. MIN. AREA TO REQUIRED RE- WIDTH ? CEILING FLOW QUIRED LENGTH DIMENSION RATE PRES- FT. ?. M ? IN- L/ SURE FT. M CHES MM GPM MIN PSI BAR 14 ? 22 4.3 ? 6.7 4-6 102-152 31 117.3 15.0 1.03 14 ? 22 4.3 ? 6.7 6-12 152-305 35 132.5 19.1 1.3 14 ? 24 4.3 ? 7.3 4-6 102-152 35 132.5 19.1 1.3 14 ? 24 4.3 ? 7.3 6-12 152-305 39 147.6 23.8 1.6 16 ? 16 4.9 ? 4.9 4-12 102-305 26 98.4 10.6 0.7 16 ? 18 4.9 ? 5.5 4-12 102-305 29 109.8 13.1 0.9 16 ? 20 4.9 ? 6.1 4-12 102-305 32 121.1 16.0 1.1 16 ? 22 4.9 ? 6.7 4-12 102-305 36 136.2 20.2 1.4 16 ? 24 4.9 ? 7.3 4-12 102-305 39 147.6 23.8 1.6 18 ? 18 5.5 ? 5.5 4-12 102-305 33 124.9 17.0 1.2 18 ? 20 5.5 ? 6.1 4-12 102-305 36 136.2 20.2 1.4 18 ? 22 5.5 ? 6.7 4-12 102-305 40 151.4 25.0 1.7

(42) FIGS. 6A to 6C show a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler 600 according to an additional embodiment. Similar to the fire protection sprinklers 1 and 100, discussed above, the fire protection sprinkler 600 includes a sprinkler body 610, an inlet passage 601, a sleeve body 615, and an outlet 612 that is sealed by a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a spring washer 630 seated in the outlet 612, and a closure element 640 received in the spring washer 630 and sealing the outlet 612. The fire protection sprinkler 600 further includes a load screw 685, a yoke 660, two levers 670, and a soldered link 680. Each of these elements operates in a similar manner to the corresponding elements discussed above with respect to the fire protection sprinklers 1 and 100.

(43) The fire protection sprinkler 600 differs from the fire protection sprinklers 1 and 100 in the structure of the deflector. In particular, the fire protection sprinkler 600 includes a slide plate 635 having a center aperture 635a for fitting over the outlet 612 of the sprinkler body 610. A subassembly 650, including a machined frame 710 and a deflector 750 (see FIGS. 7A to 7D), is attached to the slide plate 635. The frame 710 is machined in the shape of a wishbone and has two arms 710a, 710b that are attached to the slide plate 635 via, for example, rivets 730. A top portion 710c of the frame 710 opposite the two arms 710a, 710b is attached to the deflector 750. A height of the rivets 730 from the slide plate 635 is provided at reference numeral 715. The arms 710a, 710b of the frame 710 are substantially the same size as a side of the deflector 750 parallel to the arms.

(44) In some embodiments, the fire protection sprinkler has a length measured along the axis between an inlet and an outlet of less than, for example, 57.15 mm (2.25 inches) prior to actuation, and increasing to more than 63.5 mm (2.50 inches) following actuation. The fire protection sprinkler has a coverage length and a coverage width, the coverage length being oriented in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, and the coverage length being oriented in a direction perpendicular to the axis between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice. In these embodiments, the coverage length is more than 5.49 m (18 feet). The coverage length and coverage width define a coverage area, and the fire protection sprinkler delivers the fluid to a wall at the perimeter of the coverage area at a rate of not less than the flow rate of the fluid through the outlet orifice multiplied by 20 percent of the ratio between the length of the wall and the perimeter of the coverage area. In this regard, the fire protection sprinkler, prior to actuation, fits in a roughly 88.9 mm (3.50 inches) deep space formed by 38 mm by 89 mm studs (nominally 2 inches by 4 inches) in the wall.

(45) A spring 620, for example, a conical spring is provided between the slide plate 635 and an inner wall of the sprinkler body 610 (towards the bottom of FIG. 6B), and forces the slide plate 635 away from the sprinkler body 610. Fusion of the soldered link 680 results in the release of the levers 670, the yoke 660, the load screw 685, and the closure element 640, as each element is forced out of and away from the fire protection sprinkler 600 by the force of the fluid. In addition, at this time, the spring 620 forces the slide plate 635 outward from the wall (upward in FIG. 6B), and forces the frame 710 outward from the wall, moving the deflector 750 to the proper position to deliver the fluid where it is needed. The fire protection sprinkler 600 further includes a guide pin 690 for helping to guide the slide plate 635 upon actuation of the fire protection sprinkler 600.

(46) A ball 625, as shown in FIG. 6B, can be provided between two load screws 685a and 685b to act as a free spinning bearing. The ball 625 can reduce friction (torsion) during final assembly of the fire protection sprinkler 600, and in particular, when the load screws 685a, 685b are is torqued (screwed downwards) to impart deflection load to the spring washer 630.

(47) FIGS. 8A to 8F show various views of the deflector 750. The deflector 750 may, if desired, be identical to that described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,353,882, although the invention is not limited to use of that deflector. The deflector 750 may have a radically folded canopy portion 750a that has a minimal overhang over a vertical dispersion plate portion 750b. This can reduce the overall length of fire protection sprinkler 600, thus allowing the fire protection sprinkler 600 to fit within a space between 38 mm?89 mm studs (i.e., within a space between a nominal 2 inch by 4 inch stud).

(48) The frame arms 710, the load screw 685, and deflector attachment means, shown in Section 7D-7D in FIG. 7D, may, if desired, be similar to those described in Bulletin 033, UL Listed F1 Residential Horizontal Sidewall Sprinkler, published by the Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., although the invention is not limited to use of the structure defined therein.

(49) The fire protection sprinkler 600 is preferably a residential sidewall type fire protection sprinkler, as defined by NFPA 13, and can have a nominal K-factor of 4.2 gpm/psi.sup.1/2. The fire protection sprinkler 600 is permitted for use in residential occupancies and can obtain a coverage area of 4.8 m by 6.10 (16 feet by 20 feet). Further technical details of the fire protection sprinkler 600 are provided below in Tables 3 and 4. Of course, our invention is not limited by the technical details provided in these tables, and the tables are merely examples of this embodiment.

(50) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 MAXIMUM SPRINKLER MAXIMUM WATER IDENTIFICATION ORIFICE K FACTOR THREAD AMBIENT WORKING NUMBER SIZE US METRIC SIZE TEMPERATURE PRESSURE (SIN) APPROVALS ? 4.2 60 ? NPT 100? F. 175 PSI RA4835 cULus (9.6 mm) (R?) (38? C.) (12 bar)

(51) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Listed Design Criteria MAX. DEFLECTOR COVERAGE AREA TO CEILING FLOW TEMPERATURE WIDTH ? LENGTH DIMENSION RATE PRESSURE RATING FT. ? FT. M ? M INCHES MM GPM L/MIN PSI BAR SPRINKLER COVER 12 ? 12 3.6 ? 3.6 4-6 102-152 12 45.4 8.2 0.57 165? F. 135? F. 12 ? 12 3.6 ? 3.6 6-12 152-305 13 49.2 9.6 0.67 (74? C.) (57? C.) 14 ? 14 4.3 ? 4.3 4-6 102-152 12 45.4 8.2 0.57 14 ? 14 4.3 ? 4.3 6-12 152-305 14 53.0 11.1 0.78 16 ? 16 4.9 ? 4.9 4-12 102-305 16 60.6 14.5 1.01 16 ? 18 4.9 ? 5.5 4-12 102-305 18 68.1 18.4 1.29 16 ? 20 4.9 ? 6.1 4-6 102-152 22 83.3 27.4 1.92 16 ? 20 4.9 ? 6.1 6-12 152-305 23 87.0 30.0 2.10

(52) FIGS. 9A to 9C show a horizontal sidewall fire protection sprinkler 900 according to an additional embodiment. Similar to the fire protection sprinkler 600 discussed above, the fire protection sprinkler 900 includes a sprinkler body 910, an inlet passage 901, a sleeve body 915, and an outlet 912 sealed by a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a spring washer 930 seated at the outlet 912, and a closure element 940 received in the spring washer 930 and sealing the outlet 912. The fire protection sprinkler 900 further includes a load screw 985, a yoke 960, two levers 970 and a soldered link 980. Each of these elements operates in a similar manner to the corresponding elements discussed above with respect to the fire protection sprinklers 1, 100, and 600.

(53) The fire protection sprinkler 900 includes a slide plate 935 having a center aperture 935a for fitting over the outlet 912 of the sprinkler body 910. A subassembly 950, including a machined frame 1010 and a deflector 1050 (see FIGS. 10A to 10D), is attached to the slide plate 935. The frame 1010 is machined in the shape of a wishbone and has two arms 1010a, 1010b that are attached to the slide plate 935 via, for example, rivets 1030. A top portion 1010c of the frame 1010 opposite the two arms 1010a, 1010b is attached to the deflector 1050. A height from the slide plate 935 to a bottom side of the deflector 1050 is provided at reference numeral 1015. The fire protection sprinkler 900 differs from the fire protection sprinkler 600 in that the arms 1010a, 1010b of the frame 1010 are substantially larger than the size of a side of the deflector 1050 parallel to the arms 1010a, 1010b (e.g., the arms 1010a, 1010b of the frame 1010 may be twice the size of the deflector 1050).

(54) A spring 920, for example, a conical spring, is provided between the slide plate 935 and an upper surface 910c of the sprinkler body 910 (towards the an upper surface of the sprinkler body 910 in FIG. 9B), and forces the slide plate 935 away from the sprinkler body 910. Fusion of the soldered link 980 results in the release of the levers 970, the yoke 960, the load screw 985, and the closure element 940, as each of these elements is forced out of and away from the fire protection sprinkler 900 by the force of the fluid. In addition, at this time, the spring 920 forces the slide plate 935 outward from the wall (upward in FIG. 9B), and forces the frame 1010 outward from the wall, moving the deflector 1050 to the proper position to deliver the fluid where it is needed. The fire protection sprinkler 900 further includes a guide pin 990 for helping to guide the slide plate 935 upon actuation of the fire protection sprinkler 900.

(55) A ball 925, as shown in FIG. 9B, can be provided between two load screws 985a, 985b to act as a free spinning bearing. The ball 925 can reduce friction (torsion) during final assembly of the fire protection sprinkler 900, and in particular, when the load screws 985a, 985b are torqued (screwed downwards) to impart deflection load to the spring washer 930.

(56) FIGS. 11A to 11F show various views of the deflector 1050. The deflector 1050 may be similar to the deflector 750 described above in connection with FIGS. 8A to 8F. Unlike the deflector 750, however, the deflector 1050 does not have an elongated double folded lower vertical dispersion plate. Instead, the deflector 1050 has a conical slot 1050a, shown in FIGS. 11A and 11F, and a small slot 1050b on the canopy (shown in FIGS. 11A and 11C). The foregoing features of the deflector 1050 can result in an optimized water distribution pattern for a coverage area of 3.05 m by 3.05 m (10 feet by 10 feet) in ordinary hazard applications.

(57) The fire protection sprinkler 900 is preferably a sidewall standard spray fire protection sprinkler, as defined by NFPA 13, having a nominal K-factor of 5.6 gpm/psi.sup.1/2, and is permitted for use in light hazard and ordinary hazard occupancies. The fire protection sprinkler 900 can obtain a standard coverage area, as defined by NFPA 13, of 4.27 m by 4.27 m (14 feet by 14 feet) for light hazard applications and 3.05 m by 3.05 m (10 feet by 10 feet) for ordinary hazard applications. Further technical details of the fire protection sprinkler 900 are provided below in Tables 5 and 6. Of course, our invention is not limited by the technical details provided in these tables, and the tables are merely examples of this embodiment.

(58) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 MAXIMUM K WATER NOMINAL FACTOR THREAD SERVICE ORIFICE SIZE US METRIC SIZE PRESSURE ? inch (15 mm) 5.6 80 ? NPT 175 PSI (12 bar) (R?)

(59) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 SPRINKLER COVER IDENTIFI- MAX. SPRINKLER PLATE CATION AMBIENT TEMPER- TEMPER- NUMBER TEMPER- ATURE ATURE (SIN) ATURE RATING RATING APPROVAL RA5035 100? F. 165? F. 135? F cULus (38? C.) (74? C.) (57? C.)

(60) Further, while this disclosure has been described with respect to what are, at present, considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.