Spray head for uniform fluid distribution

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spray head for effective fire fighting. The spray head according to the present invention provides a uniform distribution of a fluid, such as pressurized water, over a relatively large area. To achieve this the spray head comprises a body defining a center axis and further comprising a fixation structure for fixing the spray head to a fluid supply system, a fluid inlet, a plurality of outlet nozzles arranged around the center axis, and a flow path between the inlet and the nozzles, wherein a first set of nozzles are located at a larger radial distance from the center axis than a second set of nozzles, and wherein the second set of nozzles are located at a larger radial distance from the center axis than a third set of nozzles, and wherein the nozzles comprise an essentially identical expansion passage section. The present invention further relates to method for providing a uniform fluid distribution.

Claims

1. A spray head comprising: a body defining a centre axis and further comprising a first conic circumferential surface around the centre axis and a second conic circumferential surface around the centre axis, a fixation structure for fixing the spray head to a fluid supply system, a fluid inlet, a plurality of outlet nozzles comprising a first set of outlet nozzles arranged on the first conic circumferential surface around the centre axis and a second set of outlet nozzles arranged on the second conic circumferential surface around the centre axis, and a flow path between the fluid inlet and each of the plurality of outlet nozzles, wherein each of the plurality of outlet nozzles comprises an essentially identical initial passage section having a first cross sectional size and an essentially cylindrical shape, wherein each of the plurality of outlet nozzles comprises an essentially identical expansion passage section having a second cross sectional size and an essentially conical shape with a sharp end and an opening, wherein the second cross sectional size is larger than the first cross sectional size, wherein each of the sharp ends of the essentially conical shapes of the expansion passage sections is oriented towards one of the initial passage sections, wherein each of the openings of the essentially conical shapes of the expansion passage sections forms an outlet of the spray head, and wherein the first set of outlet nozzles is located at a larger radial distance from the centre axis than the second set of outlet nozzles.

2. The spray head according to claim 1, wherein the first conic circumferential surface forms a first angle to the centre axis, and wherein the second conic circumferential surface forms a second angle to the centre axis.

3. The spray head according to claim 1, wherein the first set of nozzles comprises a larger number of nozzles than the second set of nozzles.

4. The spray head according to claim 1, wherein the fixation structure surrounds the inlet.

5. The spray head according to claim 1, wherein the initial passage section is coaxially aligned with the expansion passage section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The present invention will now be described in further details with reference to the accompanying where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bottom and a side view of the spray head according to the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view and a cross-sectional view of a closed spray head,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view and a cross-sectional view of an open spray head, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows cross-sectional views of different regions of the spray head.

(6) While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In its broadest aspect the present invention relates to a fire fighting spray head capable of distributing fluid in a uniform manner. By uniform is meant that an area is provided with an essentially evenly distributed amount of fluid, such as water. This is done with a sufficiently amount of fluid to control or extinguish the fire. In addition, the fire fighting spray head of the present invention is capable of distributing a fluid, such as water over a larger area compared to conventional spray heads whereby the number of required spray heads forming a fire fighting system can be significantly reduced. The spray head of the present invention can cover an area of about 25 square meters.

(8) Referring now to FIG. 1 a bottom view, FIG. 1a, and a side view, FIG. 1b, of a spray head according to the present invention is depicted. The spray head comprises a body 1 defining a centre axis 2. The body 1 may be seen as comprising two parts—a fixation part 3 for connecting the spray head to a fluid supply system (not shown) and a distribution part 4 for distributing fluid for fire fighting according to a desired wish. The spray head further comprises an arrangement 5 for holding a fire actuation member, here a glass ampoule (not shown). Inside the glass ampoule there is a gas bubble when the ampoule is heated the gas bubble expands and breaks the glass ampoule. It can be controlled at what temperature the ampoule burst this is conventionally between 50 and 150° C. It should be noted that the fire actuation member may be implemented and configured in various ways. For example, externally positioned temperature sensors could also be used for activating the fire fighting system. Thus, the present invention should by no means be limited to any specific way of the implementing the fire actuation member.

(9) The spray head can be made of for example brass, stainless steel or any other heat resistant material. The overall length of the spray head depicted in FIG. 1 is around 52 mm whereas the width of the spray head is around 35 mm. The spray head is designed to withstand fluidic pressures as high as 300 bar.

(10) As seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b the distribution part 4 of the spray head comprises angled facets 9, 10 and 11 arranged in a circumferential manner around the centre axis 2. Three sets of outlet nozzles 6, 7 and 8 are arranged in respective ones of angled facets 9, 10 and 11. Thus, if a pressurised fluid, such as water, escapes through the three sets of nozzles, fluid escaping through the upper set of nozzles 6 will reach the longest distance from the spray head, whereas fluid escaping through the middle set of nozzles 7 will reach an middle distance from the spray head. Fluid escaping through the lower set of nozzles 8 will reach the shortest distance from the spray head. Fluid simultaneously escaping through all nozzles will form an essentially uniform fluid distribution in a given area on plane below the spray head in case the spray head is mounted in a ceiling of a room or building.

(11) The upper facet 9 may, in a cross-sectional profile, form an angle of around 15° to the centre axis 2, whereas the middle facet may, in a cross-sectional profile, form an angle of around 34° to the centre axis 2. The bottom facet 11 is essentially perpendicular to the centre axis 2.

(12) In FIG. 2 a side view of the spray head is shown in FIG. 2a, whereas FIG. 2b shows a cross-section profile along cut A-A. The spray head of FIG. 2 is connected to a fluid supply unit 12, such as a water supply unit. In addition, the spray head of FIG. 2 is depicted in a closed state in that the fire activation member 13, here a glass ampoule, is intact. The glass ampoule 13 maintains the displaceable valve element 14 in a position where the fluid conduit 15 is blocked. As seen, a fluid tight sealing is provided with sealing element 16 which can be an o-ring. A linear spring 17 biases the displaceable valve element 14 in a forward direction so that when the spray head is exposed to temperatures sufficient to burst the glass ampoule 13 the linear spring 17 displaces the valve element 14 in a forward direction whereby fluid is allowed to enter the interior 18 of the body of the spray device. From the interior 18 the fluid is allowed to escape through nozzles 19, 20 and 21. It should be noted that nozzles are also present in facet 22. However, these nozzles are not depicted in FIG. 2.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a spray head in an open state of operation. Thus, in FIG. 3 the fluid is allowed to enter the interior 23 of the spray head via conduit 24. As seen in FIG. 3, the displaceable valve element 25 has been displaced to a front position thereby creating a free fluid passage from conduit 24 to outlet nozzles 26, 27 and 28. The pressure of the fluid may be of various sizes, but in case of water being the fluid of be distributed via the spray head a pressure of around 100 bar will be typical.

(14) The nozzles of the spray head of the present invention is shown in greater details in FIG. 4. FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the spray head whereas FIGS. 4a and 4c show detailed cross-sectional views of the nozzle arrangement. Starting with FIG. 4a cross-sectional profiles of an upper and a middle nozzle is depicted. As seen, each nozzle has a cylindrically shaped initial passage section 29, 30 being in fluidic communication with a conically shaped expansion passage section 31, 32. The diameter of the cylindrically shaped sections 29, 30 are around 1 mm, whereas the opening angle of conically shaped sections are around 60°. The diameters of the openings of the conically shaped sections are around 4.5 mm. The respective escaping angles, indicated by axes 33, 34, measured in relation to the centre axis 35 of FIG. 4b, are typically around 75° for the upper nozzle 29, 31, and around 56° for the middle nozzle 30, 32. However, other escaping angles are also applicable.

(15) Referring now to FIG. 4c cross-sectional profiles of an upper and a bottom nozzle is depicted. As seen, each nozzle has a cylindrically shaped initial passage section 36, 37 being in fluidic communication with a conically shaped expansion passage section 38, 39. As previously mentioned, the diameter of the cylindrically shaped section 36 of the upper nozzle is around 1 mm, whereas the diameter of the cylindrically shaped section 37 of the bottom nozzle is 0.6-0.7 mm. The opening angles of conically shaped sections are both around 60°, and the diameters of the openings of the conically shaped sections are around 4.5 mm. The respective escaping angles, indicated by axes 40, 41, measured in relation to the centre axis 35 of FIG. 4b, are typically around 75° for the upper nozzle 36, 38, and around 5° for the bottom nozzle 37, 39. However, as previously mentioned other escaping angles are also applicable.

(16) While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.