IP Library Granted Patent US 12691313
Granted Patent B2
US 12691313 · App. 18/042,381 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Systems and methods of fluid operated concealed sprinklers within closed cavities

Inventors: Alex Laprade (Cranston, RI); Sean E. Cutting (West Warwick, RI); Krista Nolan (Foxborough, MA); Barbara L. Churchill (Pawtucket, RI); Steven L. Shields (Lubbock, TX); Prashant A. Kulkarni (Cranston, RI)
Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
A62C31/02A62C35/68A62C37/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691313
App. No.
18/042,381
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A concealed sprinkler can include a body that defines an outlet, a seal that seals the outlet, an activation element coupled with the seal, a housing, a cover plate, and a wall. The activation element changes from a first state to a second state responsive to a fire condition to allow the seal to be displaced from the outlet. The housing extends from a first housing end that extends from the body to a second housing end, and defines a chamber around the activation element. The cover plate is coupled with the second housing end. The wall extends towards the activation element to form an air flow channel to the activation element adjacent to the wall. At least one of the cover plate and the wall are removably coupled with the body.

Claims (54)

1 . A concealed sprinkler, comprising:

a body that defines an outlet around an axis;

a seal that seals the outlet;

an activation element coupled with the seal, the activation element changes from a first state to a second state responsive to a fire condition to allow the seal to be displaced from the outlet;

a housing extending from a first housing end that extends from the body to a second housing end that is outward from the axis, the housing defines a chamber around the activation element, the activation element is between the second housing end and the first housing end;

a cover plate coupled with the second housing end; and

a wall that extends from the cover plate, towards the activation element, to an inner edge that is spaced from the second housing end, to form an air flow channel into the chamber to the activation element adjacent to the wall, the air flow channel comprising a channel inlet defining a gap between the cover plate and the second housing end, at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall removably coupled with the body.

2 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the wall includes at least one of a ramp, a baffle, a fin, and a vent.

3 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

an assembly comprising at least one of the retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly is removably coupled with the body.

4 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the cover plate defines a distance from the cover plate to the activation element.

5 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the cover plate is attached to the retaining ring by at least one of solder, a fastener, a tab, a crimp, and an adhesive.

6 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the retaining ring is integrally formed as one or more tabs of the wall to removably attach the cover plate with the housing.

7 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the body defines a fluid passageway extending from an inlet to the outlet and the axis extending through the inlet and the outlet; and

the first housing end comprises an end wall that extends transverse to the axis, the end wall defines a single opening, the single opening around the axis.

8 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the activation element comprises at least one of a bulb and a plurality of levers coupled with the seal and a plurality of fusible links bonded to the plurality of levers.

9 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the housing comprises a sprinkler cup, the cover plate removably coupled with the housing.

10 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the wall comprises a portion that decreases in diameter from the cover plate towards the activation element.

11 . A sprinkler system, comprising:

a building structure that defines a cavity; and

a sprinkler, comprising:

a body that defines an inlet coupled with one or more pipes and an outlet coupled with the inlet, the outlet around an axis;

a seal that seals the outlet to prevent fluid from the one or more pipes from flowing through the outlet;

an activation element coupled with the seal, the activation element changes from a first state to a second state to allow the fluid to flow through the outlet;

a housing comprising a first housing end coupled with the body and a second housing end that is outward from the axis, the housing positioned in the cavity, the housing defines a chamber around the activation element, the activation element is between the first housing end and the second housing end;

a cover plate coupled with the housing; and

a wall that extends from the cover plate, towards the activation element, to an inner edge that spaced from the second housing end, to form an air flow channel into the chamber to the activation element along the wall, the air flow channel comprising a channel inlet defining a gap between the cover plate and the second housing end, at least one of the cover plate and the wall are removably coupled with the body.

12 . The sprinkler system of claim 11 , comprising:

the housing comprises a sprinkler cup; and

an assembly comprising at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly removably coupled with at least one of the sprinkler cup and a sprinkler box in the cavity.

13 . The sprinkler system of claim 11 , comprising:

the cover plate defines a distance from the cover plate to the activation element, a ratio of the distance to the gap is greater than or equal to 1:2 and less than or equal to 2:1.

14 . The sprinkler system of claim 11 , comprising:

the cover plate is attached to the housing by at least one of solder, a fastener, a tab, a crimp, and an adhesive.

15 . The sprinkler system of claim 11 , comprising:

the activation element comprises at least one of a bulb and a plurality of levers coupled with the seal and a plurality of fusible links bonded to the plurality of levers.

16 . The sprinkler system of claim 11 , comprising:

an assembly comprising at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly is removably coupled with the body.

17 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the inner edge is closer to the axis than the second housing end is to the axis.

18 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the inner edge is structured to form the air flow channel on a side of the wall facing towards the chamber, the side of the wall facing the channel inlet.

19 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the wall is annular.

20 . The concealed sprinkler of claim 1 , comprising:

the channel inlet is outward from the wall relative to the axis.