Sprinkler heads having valves actuated by separate pressure lines

March 14, 1967 c. v. zieg etal 3,309,028

SPRINKLER HEADS HAVING VALVES ACTUATED

BY SEPARATE PRESSURE LINES

Filed July 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEYS'

March 14, 1967 c. v. zieg etal 3,309,028

SPRINKLER HEADS HAVING VALVES ACTUATED

BY SEPARATE PRESSURE LINES

Filed July 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTORS

Clifford V Zieg

FOBE/ET G F/HE

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ATTORNEYS

March 14, 1967

Filed July 31, 1964

C. V. ZIEG ETAL

SPRINKLER HEADS HAVING VALVES ACTUATED BY SEPARATE PRESSURE LINES

3,309,028

Sheets-Sheet 3

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ATTORNEYS

March 14, 1967 c. v. zieg etal 3,309,028

SPRINKLER HEADS HAVING VALVES ACTUATED

BY SEPARATE PRESSURE LINES

Filed July 31, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office 3,309,02« ____________________ Patented Mar. 14, 1967 selected temperature in the case of a fire protected area, or the control system can be operated manually from a remote central point, or by any other suitable means.

The present sprinkler head means is provided with a deflector which is effective for insuring uniform distribution of the discharging liquid over the controlled area. The deflector includes a plate, which is positioned to receive flow directly from the valve seat opening when the piston is in a sprinkler “OPEN” position; the sprinkler head being designed so that said flow impinges uniformly on the deflector plate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate is positioned below the sprinkler head body, and the latter has an annular flow passage that terminates in a nozzle section that accelerates the discharging liquid and directs it at high velocity toward the deflector plate. In another embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate is mounted in an intermediate location longitudinally of the sprinkler head assembly; means being provided to insure that water flowing through the valve seat opening will impinge uniformly thereon.

If, in a sprinkler head of the present type, the operating fluid pressure system which holds the piston in a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, should inadvertently contain entrapped air, then under severe conditions of shock, surge or vibration in the water supply line, it would be possible for the piston to momentarily be forced to a sprinkler “OPEN” position, thus releasing a quantity of water through the sprinkler head. Such inadvertent release of water is, in many installations, undesirable. In order to ---------is provided with a unique bleed valve arrangement, which is designed to enable entrapped air to be removed from the operating fluid control system during pressurization thereof; thus, inadvertent opening of the sprinkler head due to a peculiar combination of entrapped air in the control system and severe shock or surges in the water supply line, is prevented.

While the present sprinkler heads are especially useful in fire protection systems, their utility is not limited to such application. For example, the instant sprinkler heads are also suitable for use in greenhouses, bathhouses, and the like, for humidifying and/or watering vegetation. One embodiment of the invention is especially constructed for this latter use, and incorporates a stem and deflector assembly designed to completely atomize the water dispensed from the sprinkler head.

The present sprinkler heads are designed to provide substantially uniform water distribution over the protected or watered area, as has been borne out by actual tests. Such uniform distribution is important to insure that all points within the distribution area receive a substantially equal and adequate amount of water, and that no localized area becomes over-saturated. The watering of vegetation especially requires such uniform distribution of water, as over-saturation can frequently be quite harmful to certain plants.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sprinkler head, including a fluid pressure operated flow-controlling piston, or valve element, that will provide reliable operation and substantially uniform distribution of the w'ater discharging from the sprinkler head.

Another object is to provide a fluid pressure controlled ₆₅ sprinkler head, including means for removing entrapped air from the fluid pressure control system.

A further object is to provide liquid deflecting means for a sprinkler head that will cooperate with other comίο

3,309 028

SPRINKLER HEADS HAVING VALVES ACTUATED BY SEPARATE PRESSURE LINES

Clifford V. Zieg, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Robert G. Fike, Fairfax, Va., assignors to Donald G. Griswold, Corona Del Mar, Calif.

Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,509

Claims. (Cl. 239—498)

This invention relates generally to sprinkler heads for use in automatic fire extinguishing systems, greenhouses, bathhouses, and the like, and especially to sprinkler heads of the type which, when installed, are continuously in communication with a pressurized source of water.

More particularly, the invention relates to a fluid pressure operated sprinkler head designed to remain securely closed until operation thereof is desired, and which sprinkler head can be provided with one of several types of stems and deflectors designed to provide a uniform distribution of the discharging fluid in a completely atomized state, or as a heavy vapor, when said head is open.

Sprinkler heads of the type to which this invention relates are employed in automatic fire extinguishing systems which commonly include a plurality of water supply 25 pipes installed according to a preselected pattern within the area to be protected, and which are continuously in communication with water under pressure. At intervals within the protected area, chosen so that the entire area ______ ... „ can be adequately sprinkled when necessary, sprinkler 30 avoid this, the instant sprinkler head i: heads are connected to the water supply pipes. The ' ' sprinkler heads are normally closed, and are arranged to be automatically opened to dispense water for extinguishing, controlling or preventing fires within the protected area.

The present sprinkler head structures are intended primarily for use with a wet sprinkler system, that is, a system in which the supply lines to the sprinkler heads are continuously filled with water. However, they can also be utilized with dry systems, such as those wherein the piping between a control valve and the sprinkler heads is dry and water is supplied to the piping and sprinkler heads only when it is desired to have the sprinklers operate.

The instant sprinkler heads each include a piston which is operated by hydraulic pressure in a control system that includes a pressure supply conduit connected to the sprinkler head and supplied with pressurized operating fluid from a suitable source. The sprinkler heads also include a valve seat having an opening communicating with the water supply line, the piston being movable between ⁵⁰a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, in which it engages and closes off flow through the valve seat opening, to a sprinkler “OPEN” position, wherein the valve seat opening is unobstructed to allow flow therethrough.

The present sprinkler heads are further designed so that no flow therefrom can occur so long as the pressure of the operating fluid is sufficient to hold the piston in engagement with the valve seat. When it is desired to operate any of the sprinkler heads to distribute water over the controlled area, the pressure within the operating fluid ⁶⁰supply conduit is relieved, whereupon the pressure of the water in the sprinkler head inlet acts on the piston to move it to a sprinkler “OPEN” position so that the water can flow through and discharge from the sprinkler head. The operating fluid pressure in the piston control system can be relieved automatically, as by a suitable thermostatcontrolled valve means operable in response to a pre40

3,309,028

15· '25 to suitable valve means (not shown) for relieving.that, pressure, as will, be readily understood. The latter can. comprise a temperature-responsive valve disposed within the area to be protected, against fire by the sprinkler head 2, or it can comprise a conventional valve operated by a master control system, manually, or by any other suitable arrangement.

The sprinkler head 2 includes a housing 14 comprising an adapter portion 16, and a main body portion 18. The adapter 16 has screw' threads 28 on the upper end portion thereof, and is connected to the lower end of the nipple 4 by a screw thimble 22. The adapter 16 also has an axial inlet 24, and further includes an upper end face 26 having a frusto-conical socket 28 that surrounds the upper end of the inlet 24.

The nipple 4 has a flange 30 at the lower end thereof, and includes a frusto-conical boss portion 32 received within the socket 28. A gasket 34 is interposed between the lower side of the flange 30 and the end face 26. The upper face of the flange 30 is. engaged by the flange 36 of the screw thimble 22, which is threaded onto the screw threads 20 to detachably secure the sprinkler head 2 to the nipple 4.

The lower end of the adapter 16 has a flange 38 containing a cylindrical socket 40 in the lower face thereof. The main body 18 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 19 having an annular rim 42 on the upper end thereof, which is received in the socket 40. The adapter:16 and body 18 are secured together, by cap . screws 44 and . lock washers 46, the screws 44 passing through openings· in the flange 38, and being received in threaded bores 48 in an upper radial flange 50 on the cylindrical portion 19.

The main body 18 is provided at its upper end with a circular inlet 52 and at its lower end with a circular 35 outlet throat 54. The interior surface of the body 18 is defined by a cylindrical central portion 56, which is merged with the inlet 52 by an upwardly converging,., rounded, transitional· portion 58, and a downwardly, converging or tapering frusto-conical portion 60 that extends from the central portion 56 to the outlet throat 54. The frusto-conical portion 60 will typically taper at an angle E to the vertical of about 20 degrees.

Within and integral with the main body portion 18 is an inner body 62 including a cylindrical section 64 disposed concentrically within and in spaced relation to the cylindrical wall portion 56, and a downwardly tapering, frusto-conical portion 66 that extends parallel to the wall 60, and which defines therewith a downwardly converging annular flow space. The inner body 62. is supported by ⁵⁰ a pair of diametrically-aligned bosses 68 and 70, and by a web 72 integral with the boss 68 and disposed normal to the axis thereof, as is best seen in FIG. 5.

The inner body 62 has an end face 74 that is spaced axially inwardly from the adapter 16 and includes an ⁵⁵ axially extending control chamber 76 formed by an axial bore 78 and a counterbore 80 aligned with the inlet 24. The upper end of the counterbore 80 lies within the cylindrical section 64 and is chamfered at 82, and the external upper edge of said section is similarly but oppositely ^C0 chamfered at 84. A bore 86 extends axially through the boss 70 and communicates with the bore 78 of chamber 76 and has a threaded counterbore 88 to which is secured the threaded end of the operating fluid supply and exhaust conduit 12.

Received in the counterbore portion 80 of the control chamber 76 is the lower end of the piston or valve element 10.: The piston includes a cylindrical body 92 terminating at its upper end in a head 94. The lower .end ₍ of the inlet 24 in the adapter 16 has a frusto-conical valve ⁷⁰ seat 96, which is tapered at an included angle A of about 90 degrees. The head 94 is generally cylindrical, and includes a frusto-conical seating surface 98 :on the upper end thereof, which tapers at an included angle identical T- to the angle A of the valve seat 96.. The seating surface i o ponents thereof, to provide substantially uniform distribution of the liquid discharging from said head in a very finely atomized state.

Still another object is to provide a sprinkler tieaa having but one moving element, thus enabling ready ana economical manufacture.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, when considered, in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the present sprinkler head shown installed in a water supply line; .

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 2—2 of FIG. 1, .

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 3 3 of FIG· 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 4__4 of FIG. 3, showing in particular the configuration of the deflector plate; .

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 5—5 of FIG. 3, showing the construction of the valve body and air bleed valve;

FIG 6 is a vertical sectional view through a sprinkler head .similar to that of FIG. 3, but differing therefrom in that it has a modified stem and deflector assembly;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another design of sprinkler head shown connected in a supply pipe;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view through the snrinkler head, taken on the line 9—9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional· view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 10—10 of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; .

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view through the valve seat .assembly of FIG· 9, .

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another , design of sprinkler head, shown connected in a supply pipe;.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 13—13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line. 14—14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view through the sprinkler head, taken on the line 15—15 of FIG. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows; and .

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken on the line 16—16 of FIG. 13, showing in particular the manner in which the end of one of the strut elements is connected to a portion of the sprinkler head body.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, one preferred embodiment of the sprinkler head is indicated generally at 2, and shown connected by a nipple 4 to the leg of a pipe-T 6. The pipe-T 6 is connected, in a water supply pipe 8, which supplies water to the sprinkler, head 2. It is to be understood that while but one sprinkler head 2 is shown in the. drawings, a plurality thereof would be employed in a conventional sprinkler system.

The sprinkler head 2 is in continuous communication with a source of water through the supply pipe 8,. and includes a fluid pressure-operated, flow-controlling piston or valve element 10, which is normally maintained in a sprinkler “CLOSED” position by operating fluid conducted under pressure to the sprinkler head through a conduit 12. When it is desired to make the sprinkler head 2 operational, pressure is relieved in, or exhausted from the conduit 12, whereupon the piston, element .10 will be moved to a sprinkler “OPEN” position by line pressure, all of which is more fully explained hereinafter, thus allowing water from, the supply. pipe 8 to flow through said head.. _ .

The pressure supply conduit 12 is connected to a suitable source of operating liquid under pressure, and also

A resilient O-ring 102 is The piston 10 is movable

3,309,028 is provided centrally thereof with a rectangular groove 10® having side walls projecting inwardly from and normal to said seating surface, disposed in the groove 100.

in the control chamber 76 to seat the surface 98 and O-ring 102 on the valve seat 96 to close off flow into the inlet 24 from the supply pipe 8.

The body 92 of the piston 10 is provided about midway of its length with a circumferential groove 104, within which is disposed an O-ring 106 that is arranged to sealingly engage the inner surface of the counterbore 80. The piston 10 is movable in the control chamber 76 from a sprinkler “OPEN” position, wherein the piston is retracted to the dot-and-dash line position, indicated in FIG. 3, to a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, wherein the surface 98 and the O-ring 102 are in sealing engagement with the frusto-conical valve seat 96, as shown in full lines in said FIG. 3. The lengths of the counterbore 80 and of the cylindrical body 92 of the piston 10 are proportioned so that when the piston 10 is in a sprinkler 20 “OPEN” position, the lower face 108 of the head 94 will engage the upper end face 74 of the inner body 62.

The piston 10 is moved from its sprinkler “OPEN” position to its sprinkler “CLOSED” position by operating fluid under pressure supplied to the control chamber 76 ²⁵througn the supply conduit 12. When the pressure within the control chamber 76 is sufficiently greater than the water pressure within the inlet 24, it will be seen that the piston 10 will be positively held in a sprinkler “CLOSED” position. Similarly, it is readily apparent that when pressure within the chamber 76 is relieved sufficiently, the pressure of the water in the inlet 24 supplied from the pipe 8 will move the piston 10 to its sprinkler “OPEN” position.

In FIG. 3, the area of the piston 10 within the control chamber 76 exposed to operating fluid is about the same as the area of said piston that is exposed to water pressure within the inlet 24 when the head 94 of the piston is in engagement with the valve seat 96. Under these conditions, it is apparent that the operating fluid pressure in the control chamber 76 must exceed the pressure of the liquid in the inlet 24 in order for the piston 10 to remain in its sprinkler “CLOSED” position. It will be understood that the ratio of the piston area exnosed t~ ’ · - the pre ure of the operating fluid, can be varied, whereby any desirable ratio can be obtained.

Under normal conditions, the piston 10 can usually be held in its sprinkler “CLOSED” position even in the pres- -__________, ~ ence of an air pocket in the control chamber 76, or in the ^{50 s,lar}p!y tapered frusto-conical portion 150. conduit 12, or in some other portion of the control system.

However, when the sprinkler head 2 is utilized in an environment where severe conditions of shock, surge or vibration are present in the supply pipe 8, an air pocket or pockets in the operating fluid may result in inadvertent ⁵⁵movement of the piston 10 away from its sprinkler “CLOSED” position, and permit flow of water through the sprinkler head 2. This condition can be avoided by bleeding all air from the pressure control system, and the sprinkler head of FIGS. 1 to 5 is provided with a bleed ⁶³valve assembly 109' for this purpose.

The inner body 62 has a bleed port 110 extending outwardly from the. chamber 76 and positioned to confront a larger bore 112 in the boss 68. A frusto-conical seat 114 surrounds the outer end of the port 110 and lies inwardly ⁶⁵of the bore 112. The main body 18 has a recess 116 in the region of the web 72, and a bleed port 118 extends transversely through the wall of the boss 68, separating the bore 112 from said recess, and communicates with the bore 112 at a point spaced outwardly a short distance from the frusto-conical seat 114.

A ball valve 12® is received within the inner, unthreaded end of the bore 112, and is engageable with the valve seat 114 to close the bleed port 110 in the inner body 62. The 75 outer end of the bore 112 is threaded, and an “Allen” screw 122 is received therein. By threading the screw 122 inwardly,, the ball 120 can be securely held against the frusto-conical seat 114, or by threading the screw 122 outwardly said bail can be freed to move axially away from the seat 114 a distance sufficient to establish a flow path from the control chamber 76 through the port 110 and bore 112 to the bleed port 118.

i o effect bleeding of air from the piston control system, the screw 122 is first threaded outwardly to free the ball valve 120 for movement. Operating fluid (liquid) is then supplied through the conduit 12 to the control chamber 76. As the fluid moves into the control chamber 76, it will push the air initially contained within the conduit 12 and the chamber 76 outwardly through the bleed port 110, bore 112 and bleed port 118. When the air has been completely exhausted from the line 12 and the chamber 76, the operating fluid itself will begin to flow from the bleed port 118. The screw 122 is then threaded inwardly to seat the ball 120 on the seat 114, thus closing the bleed valve 109¹.

The inner body 62, as described hereinabove, is supported concentrically within the hollow main body 18 so as to define therebetween a substantially continuous annular flow channel 124 that extends from the valve seat 96 to the nozzle or outlet throat 54. When the piston 10 is in a sprinkler “OPEN” position, water from the supply pipe 8 can flow from the inlet 24, through the valve seat 9«, through the annular flow channel 124, and thence out30 wardly through the throat 54. The sprinkler head 2 has a liquid deflector assembly 126, which functions to distribute or spray, the exiting water according to a desired pattern, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The deflector assembly 126 includes a deflector plate 3·&gt; 128, which is supported exteriorly of the valve housing 14 by a spacer element 136 and a bolt 132. The bolt 132 passes through aligned openings 134 and 136 in the deflector plate 128 and in the spacer 130, respectively and into, a threaded bore 138 in the lower end face 140 of the conical end 66 of the inner body 62. A lock washer 142 is positioned between the head of the bolt 132 and the deflector plate 128.

The spacer element 130 includes upper and lower flat . . . ------x—— — end. faces 144 and 146, respectively, the upper face 144 to inlet pressure, relative to the piston area exposed to 45 having a diameter identical to that of the lower end face „-------. ., . ... _{149 of the inner bod 62}. _thus, _{si)acgr i3o const}._tutes^{E c}°^ntlnuati°ⁿ °f ^said inner body. The external surface of the spacer element 13® comprises a first, slightly tapered frusto-conical portion 148, and a terminal, larger, more 148 will typically taper at an angle D to the vertical of about 10 degrees, and the portion 150 will typically taper at an angle C of about 21 degrees to the vertical. Furthermore, the axial length of the tapered portion 148 is about twice that of the tapered portion 150. The tapered portion 148 also extends completely through and outwardly beyond the exit or nozzle opening 54.

The deflector plate 128 is best shown in FIGS. 1 3 and 4, and is initially a flat circular disk. Radial slots 152 are cut in the periphery of the plate 128, and extend to a depth such that the inner ends thereof lie on the periphery of a common circle, or circular flat portion 155 which has a diameter slightly larger that that of the lower end face 146 of the spacer 13®. Preferably, twelve radial slots 152 are employed, whereby the marginal portion of the deflector plate 128 is divided into twelve equally spaced deflector vanes 154. The vanes 154 are bent out of the plane containing the central portion 155 of the disk 128, and downwardly and away from the main body portion 14 of the sprinkler head 2 to extend at an angle B to ths horizontal of about 12 degrees.

The design of the deflector assembly 126 and the discharge end of the housing 14 of the sprinkler head 2 is such as to provide a constriction that will insure that water issuing from the nozzle throat 54 will have a velocity

3,309,028 sufficiently high that thorough atomizing will be effected when the liquid impinges upon and is diverted by the deflector plate 128. The annular flow channel 124 through the housing 14 is large enough to assure a substantially uniform flow through the relatively smaller and restricted throat 54, which facilitates delivery of water to the plate 128 for deflection over the intended distribution area m a substantially uniform manner.

The tapered or converging flow channel between the frusto-conical surface 60 and the frusto-conical portion 66, the cylindrical throat 54, and the frusto-conical surfaces 148 and 150 of the stem or spacer element 130 combine to define a nozzle for accelerating the velocity of the water issuing from the sprinkler head 2. This acceleration enhances atomizing of the water as it strikes the deflector plate 128, and thus helps to insure fairly even distribution of dispensed liquid.

Another preferred design of sprinkler head is shown at 2' in FIG. 6, wherein parts identical to like parts of the sprinkler head 2 are identified by like numerals. . The 20 sprinkler head 2' includes a main body 18', which is identical to the body 18 except that it has a greater axial length. Also the frusto-conical surface 60' in FIG. 6 extends downwardly farther than does the like surface 60 in FIG. 3, so that the dimeter of the cylindrical throat 54' relative to the lower face 140 of the inner body 62 will be smaller than the corresponding diameter of the throat 54. . ,

The sprinkler head 2' has a modified deflector assembly 126', which includes a differently designed spacer element or stem 130'. The stem 130·’ is integral, and terminates at its upper end in a threaded portion 131 received in a threaded bore 138 provided in the lower face 140 of the inner body 62. Immediately below the threaded portion 131 is an upper, or inner, frusto-conical portion 133, which tapers outwardly from a radial end face 135 at an angle identical to the angle of taper of the surface 66; the upper end of the frusto-conical portion 133 adjoins a cylindrical portion 137, and has a diameter slightly less than that of the lower end face 140 of the inner body 62. However, the portion 137 could form a tapered continuation of the portion 133, if desired.

The portion 133 merges at its lower end into a cylindrical portion 139 that extends through and beyond the lower end of the cylindrical throat 54', and terminates in a lower, or outer, frusto-conical portion 141, which tapers outwardly at an angle of about 30 . The stem 130' terminates at its lower end in a reduced-diameter cylindrical portion 143, having a conical recess 145 m the end thereof.

Mounted on the cylindrical portion 143 of stem 130 is a deflector plate 128', identical to the plate 128 except that the unslotted central portion 155' has a smaller diameter than the like, portion 155 of the plate 128. The periphery of the plate 128' has radial slots 152 therein, which define vanes 154'. The lower end face 147 Of the portion 141 has a diameter slightly less than that of the plate portion 155', and the plate 128' is secured to the stem 130' by first passing the stem portion 143 through the opening 134' in said plate, and then peening over the lower edge of the portion 143 to overlie the edge of said opening. The sprinkler head 2' functions in a manner similar to the sprinkler head 2, and will deliver a heavy vapor over the controlled area.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 11, another design of sprinkler 65 head is indicated generally at 158, and is connected to the stem of a pipe-T 16® by a nipple 162. The pipe-T 160; like the pipe-T 6, is connected in a water supply line 8.

The sprinkler head 158 includes a housing 164, comprising an adapter 166, which includes a cylindrical body 70 168 having external threads 170 thereon. The adapter 168 terminates at its lower end in-flange 172 having threads 174 on the periphery thereof, and is connected to ring 176 having a threaded counterbore 178 in the upper, end thereof for receiving the flange 172.

The adapter 168 has an axial inlet opening 180; the upper end of which is rounded, as at_: 182. The nipple 162 has a flange 184 on the lower end thereof, and includes a frusto-conical boss 186, which is received within the rounded upper end of the inlet 182.. The upper side of the flange 184 is engaged by a flange 188 of a thimble 190, which is threaded onto the adapter 168 to secure the nipple 162 to the sprinkler head. The lower end of the thimble 190 has a cylindrical bore 192, within which is received, under radial compression, an O-ring 194 positioned to engage an unthreaded portion 196 of the adapter 166 to prevent leakage of liquid therebetween.

Spaced from the adapter 166, and connected thereto by a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced struts 198, is a body portion 200, which includes a control chamber 202 positioned to confront the inlet 180. The body portion 200 has at the lower end thereof a transverse inlet bore 204, terminating at its outer end in a threaded counterbore 206 for receiving the threaded end of an operating fluid supply and exhaust conduit 208. A port 210 connects the inlet. 204 with the control chamber 202., The upper end of the control chamber 202 is chamfered at 212.

Received within the control chamber 202 is the lower, enlarged cylindrical portion 214 of a piston 216, which has a groove 218 therein for receiving an O-ring 220. Projecting upwardly from the portion 214 of the piston 216 is a reduced diameter portion 222, which terminates in a flat upper end.

The inlet 180 has at it lower end a counterbore 226, which, in turn, is surrounded by a larger counterbore 228. Received within the counterbore 228 is a valve seat 230, comprising a metal ring 232, which is staked within said counterbore. The ring 232 has a dove-tail rib 23.4 on the 35 inner periphery thereof with diverging walls 236 (best seen in FIG. 12). A resilient seal 238 is molded at 240' in its outer periphery for receiving the rib 234. The inner diameter of the seal 238 is smaller than that of the sidewall of the counterbore 226, so that it defines, a resilient 40 valve seat against which the head 224 of the. piston 216 can sealingly engage.

Also mounted on the upper end of the piston 216 is a deflector assembly 242, which includes, a deflector plate 244. The head 224 of the piston 216 includes a conical 45 portion 246, from which depends a threaded stud 248·.

The stud 248 passes through a central opening 250 . in the deflector plate 244, and is received within a threaded bore 252 in the upper end face of the piston 222. The deflector plate 244 is circular, and the periphery thereof 50 has a plurality of radial, evenly spaced slots 254 that extend to the head 224 of the piston 216, and divide the periphery of said plate into a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflector vanes 256. As is best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the vanes 256 are bent downwardly away from 55 the valve seat 230 in the same manner as the teeth 154 of the deflector plate 128.

Referring to FIG. 10, the struts 198 have streamlined cross-sections, in that the opposite sides 258 thereof are arcuate. The struts 138 thus offer a minimum resistance to fluid flow, and hence cause minimum deflection of water flowing from the sprinkler head. The ring 176 and the flange 172 have confronting arcuate grooves 260. and 261, respectively, FIG. 8, for receiving a locking pin 262, which prevents inadvertent disconnection thereof.

The operation of the sprinkler head of FIGS. 7 to 11 is similar to that of the sprinkler head 2 of FIGS. 1 to 5. Initially, the control chamber 202 is filled with operating fluid through the conduit 238, whereupon the piston 216 is moved to a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, with the conical piston head portion 246 in engagement with the valve seat 230. The conical portion 246 will typically be tapered to have an included angle F of about 60 degrees. The inlet 180 will be supplied with water from the supply line 8.

3,309,028

When it is desired to operate the sprinkler head 158, pressure within the control chamber 202 is relieved, whereupon water pressure in the inlet 180 acts to move the piston 216 to a sprinkler “OPEN” position, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 9. Water will then flow from the inlet 180, through the valve seat 230-, and will impinge upon the deflector assembly -242. The conical piston head 246 will cooperate with the deflector plate 244 to insure even lateral distribution of the water over the area to be controlled, which water will be dispensed outwardly through exit means or outlet openings 264, between the struts 198 and the adapter 166 and body 28®.

The sprinkler head 158 has a -bleed valve arrangement 266 for bleeding air from the control chamber 202. The piston 216 has an axial blind bore 268 extending upwardly from the lower end face 270 thereof, and communicates with the control chamber 202. The reduced piston portion 222 has a transverse bore 272, terminating at its outer end in a threaded counterbore 274, and a port 276 connects the bore 274 with the -blind bore 268. A 20 frusto-conical valve seat 278 extends between the bore 274 and port 276, and a ball valve 280' is received in the bore 272 and is engageable with said valve seat.

Jlhe piston portion 2-22 has a transverse bleed port 282, FIG. 10, which extends perpendicularly to and connects with the inner end of the threaded counterbore 274. An “Allen” screw 284 is threaded in the counterbore 274, and can be manipulated to either seat the ball 280 on the valve seat 278, or to provide space for axial movement of said ball to allow the bleed valve assembly to open. The op- 30 eration of the bleed valve 266 is similar to that of the bleed valve 109, and hence will not be described further.

A further embodiment of the sprinkler head is shown at 286 in FIGS. 12 to 16, and is connected by a nipple 288 to the stem of a pipe-T 290 which, like the pipe-T’s 6 35 and 160, is connected in a water supply line 8.

The sprinkler head 285 includes a housing 292, comprising an adapter 294, and a body portion 296, which is connected to the adapter 294 by a plurality of struts 298.

The adapter 294 includes a generally cylindrical boss 3®0 having a tapered thread 382 on the exterior thereof, and has an axial inlet opening 304, the upper edge of the wall defining said inlet being rounded at 306. The nipple 288 has a flange 388 near the lower end thereof, and also has a depending frusto-conical flange 310. _x_ gasket 312 is interposed between the flange 308 and the upper end face 314 of the boss 300, and a thimble 316 having a flange 318 is threaded on the boss 360, and engages the flange 368 to secure the nipple 288 to the sprinkler head 286.

The adapter 294 further comprises a rectangular flange 329, which is provided near each of its corners with an opening 322. The openings 322 are best seen in FIGS. 14 and 16, and include a counterbore 324 at the upper end thereof.

The struts 298 are formed integrally at the lower ends thereof with a central, generally cylindrical web 326, and extend upwardly toward the flange 320. Each strut 298 terminates at its upper end in a cylindrical stud 328, which .... ......._. is offset from the center of the strut, and which extends 60 tion except when -distribution of water is desired through an opening 322. The upper end of the studs 328 has a frusto-conical recess 330 therein to enable the same to be peened outwardly, and protrudes into the region defined by the counterbore 324. The counterbore 324 and the recesses 330 are filled with suitable solder 332 to secure the struts 298 to the adapter 294.

The body portion 296 terminates at its upper end in a frusto-conical portion 334. The web 326 and the struts 298 are shaped to form a frusto-conical recess 336 for receiving the frusto-conical end portion 334, and the latter is secured within said recess by suitable solder 338. The web 326 and the body portion 296 have aligned openings 340 and 342, respectively, of identical diameter, and these are aligned with the inlet 304.

Ϊ0

The body portion 296 also has a bore 344, which defines a control chamber 346 and terminates at the lower end of the said body portion in a counterbore 348. Received within the control chamber 346 is a piston 350 carried by a piston rod 352, which extends upwardly through the openings 340 and 342 toward the adapter 294. The piston 350 has a groove 356 within which is received a resilient O-ring 358. A plate 360 is fastened to the piston 352 by a screw 362, and secures the O-ring i 358 in position.

The piston 350 is retained in the chamber 346 by a bushing 364, which is received in the counterbore 348, and has a threaded bore 366 for receiving the threaded end of a pressure fluid supply conduit 368. The bushing 364 is secured within the counterbore 348 by a snap ring 370, which engages in a groove 372 in the body portion 296, and an O-ring 374 is seated in a groove 376 in the exterior of said bushing 364 to seal the space between the bushing and the wall of the counterbore 348.

The lower face 378 of the adapter 294 has a first counterbore 389 surrounding the lower end of the inlet 304, and a second, enlarged counterbore 382 below the first counterbore. Within the counterbore 382 is a valve seat 384, identical to the valve seat 230 and including a seal 386 positioned to confront the head portion 388 of the piston assembly.

The head portion 388 has a conical tip 390, from which a cylindrical stud 392 extends downwardly. The stud 392 includes a cylindrical portion 394, and a reduced, threaded portion 396 that is received in a threaded bore 398 in the upper end of the piston rod 352. Also mounted on the upper end of the piston rod 352 is a deflector plate 400.

The deflector plate 400 is circular, and has a central opening 402, through which the cylindrical portion 394 of the stud 392 passes. The periphery of the plate 400 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 404 therein, which define deflector vanes 406 that are bent downwardly, like the vanes 256.

The piston . 350 is movable between a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, shown by full lines in FIG. 14, and a sprinkler “OPEN” position, indicated by dot-and-dash lines. When the piston 350 is in the latter position, ., ~ water can flow through the inlet 304, the valve seat 384, A 45 and outwardly through outlet openings 408 between the struts 298, the web 326, and the adapter 294 and body portions 296.

The struts 298, as is best shown in FIG. 15, are streamlined in cross-section and include arcuate side surfaces ⁵θ 410; thus, like the struts 198, they offer a minimum of resistance to the flow of water passing thereover. The operation of the sprinkler head 286, as will be readily appreciated, is substantially identical to the operation of the sprinkler head 158, and hence will not be described ⁵⁵ in detail.

It will be clear from the foregoing that sprinkler head means has been provided -which includes a flow-controlling piston member controlled by hydraulic pressure, and which will remain in a sprinkler “CLOSED” posi.2---------- ---------- The sprinkler head means also includes deflector elements constructed to provide optimum distribution of the water; is relatively simple in operation and construction; and incorporates but one moving part, the piston, whereby a high degree of reliability is assured.

In the embodiments -of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, 6 and 7 to 11, the sprinkler head has a novel bleed valve arrangement for bleeding air from the fluid 70 control system so that the sprinkler head is rendered suitable for use even under conditions of severe vibration, line surge and shock. The embodiments of FIGS. 1 to’ 5 and 6 include nozzle arrangements which accelerate exiting water as it leaves the main body 14, and before 75 it impinges on the deflector plate 128 to insure the proper differof the teach10

3,309,028 ¹² flow so that when said piston is in a sprinkler “OPEN position, the water will impinge thereon.

9. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 8, wherein the body includes a hollow outer portion in communication at one end thereof with the inlet passage and said valve seat, and , wherein the outlet is positioned at the other end thereof, and wherein an inner body is^ supported concentrically within said outer body portion in spaced relation to said valve seat, and arranged to define with said outer body a water flow space between said valve seat and said outlet, and wherein said inner body contains said control chamber. _ .

10. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 9, wherein the body has bleed valve means in communication with said control chamber operable to bleed air therefrom.

11. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 9, Wherein the deflector plate is carried by the inner body, and is nositioned exteriorly of,said body and confronts the outlet.

12. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 11,. wherein the deflector plate is supported by means projecting from the inner body, and through the outlet, and wherein said supporting means, together with said outlet, defines a nozzle arranged to increase the flow rate of wa25 ter through said outlet. . . . .

13. . A sprinkler head as recited in claim 8,, wherein the body further includes: a first portion containing the: inlet passage and the valve seat; a second portion spaced from said first portion and containing the control cham30 ber; and wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending struts extend between and connect said first portion with said second portion, and wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of openings, defined at , least partially by said struts.

14. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 13, wherein the deflector plate is mounted on the piston beneath the valve seat-engaging head portion, and is disposed between the first and second body portions.

15. A sprinkler head, comprising: a first body portion, 40 including an inlet; a valve seat on said first body portion surrounding said inlet; a second body portion extending axially from said first body portion and including a hollow outer body terminating at the end thereof remote from said valve seat in a, cylindrical outlet throat; an in45 net, body supported within said outer body and spaced therefrom and. from said valve seat to define a flow, passage from said valve seat to said outlet throat, said inner, body containing a control chamber positioned to confront said valve seat, said control chamber being connectable with a source of pressurized operating fluid; a piston partially received within said control chamber, and including a head portion engageable with said valve seat to close said inlet, said piston being movable, in re-, spouse to operating fluid pressure within said control 55 chamber, from a sprinkler “OPEN” position, in which said head portion is spaced from said valve, seat, to -a sprinkler “CLOSED” position, in engagement with said valve seat; a deflector plate; and means projecting from said inner body through and beyond said outlet throat 60 and maintaining said deflector plate in axially spaced confronting relation to said outlet throat.

16. A sprinkler head as recited in claim 15, wherein the deflector plate is circular and includes a frusto-conical marginal portion having a plurality of circumferentially 65 spaced slots therein, the inner ends of said slots lying on a common circle on said deflector plate, and . wherein the deflector plate supporting means includes an elongated element, having at least one frusto-conical surface which, together with the outlet throat, defines a nozzle . 70 for accelerating flow from the second body portion.

17. A sprinkler head as recited in claim: 16, wherein the elongated element includes a . cylindrical portion which , extends through said outlet throat, and a downwardly and outwardly tapering portion which extends 75 from said cylindrical portion to said deflector plate.

atomization and distribution of the water to meet ent requirements.

Obviously, many modifications and variations invention are possible in the light of the above ings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.