IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,201,863
Granted Patent B2
US 12,201,863 · App. 18/512,168 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Flexible dry sprinkler

Inventor: George S. Polan (Liberty, SC)
Assignee: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.
A62C35/62A62C31/02A62C31/28A62C33/04A62C35/58A62C37/14A62C37/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,201,863
App. No.
18/512,168
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler includes an inlet seal assembly sealing an inlet orifice, an inlet release unit to release the seal assembly, a flexible tube connected to the inlet release unit, a flexible linkage extending through the flexible tube, having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, an outlet biasing portion connected to an outlet end of the flexible tube and the flexible linkage, to displace the outlet end of the linkage upon activation, a sprinkler body connected to the outlet biasing portion, and an outlet seal assembly to seal an outlet orifice of the body until a predetermined temperature is reached. When reached, the outlet seal assembly releases from an outlet orifice of the body, and the outlet biasing portion displaces the linkage, causing the inlet end of the linkage to operate the inlet release unit, releasing the inlet seal assembly from the inlet orifice.

Claims (16)

1. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:

(A) an inlet seal assembly configured to seal an inlet orifice;

(B) an inlet release unit configured to release the inlet seal assembly;

(C) a flexible tube having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;

(D) a flexible linkage extending through the flexible tube, and having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;

(E) an outlet biasing portion connected to the outlet end of the flexible tube and to the outlet end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the outlet end of the flexible linkage upon activation of the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler;

(F) a sprinkler body connected to the outlet biasing portion, the sprinkler body having an outlet orifice; and

(G) an outlet seal assembly configured to seal the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body until ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, wherein, when the ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the outlet seal assembly is released from the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body, and the outlet biasing portion displaces the flexible linkage, causing the inlet end of the flexible linkage to operate the inlet release unit, thereby releasing the inlet seal assembly from the inlet orifice.

2. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the inlet seal assembly has a seal that compresses in response to a load.

3. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein bending of the flexible tube causes bending of the flexible linkage.

4. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet biasing portion displaces the flexible linkage in an outlet direction.

5. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 4 , wherein the outlet biasing portion displaces the flexible linkage in the outlet direction from a first position to a second position.

6. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet seal assembly includes an outlet seal that is configured to seal the outlet orifice.

7. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 6 , further comprising a thermally responsive element configured to hold the outlet seal in the outlet orifice prior to the thermal responsive element failing.

8. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 7 , wherein the thermally responsive element is configured to fail at the predetermined temperature.

9. The flexible dry fire protection sprinkler according to claim 8 , wherein, when the thermally responsive element fails, the outlet seal is released from the outlet orifice, thereby activating the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: THE RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO. INC.
Reel/Frame 068654/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, LLC; THE RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO. INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068294/0382 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: THE RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO. INC.
To: KKR LOAN ADMINISTRATION SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068264/0065 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2024
From: THE RELIABLE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CO. INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067487/0665 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 18166042 · Feb 8, 2023
Continuation 17149178 · Jan 14, 2021
Continuation 16515600 · Jul 18, 2019
Continuation 16044837 · Jul 25, 2018
Continuation 14534881 · Nov 6, 2014
Continuation 13486904 · Jun 1, 2012
Related Publication 20240082613A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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