IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,888,725
Granted Patent B2
US 10,888,725 · App. 15/765,910 · Granted Jan 12, 2021

Sprinkler for fire extinguisher systems

Inventors: Stefan Schnell (Stockelsdorf, DE); Frank Roennfeldt (Travenbrueck, DE)
Assignee: Minimax GmbH & Co. KG
A62C35/68A62C37/14A62C31/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,888,725
App. No.
15/765,910
Granted
Jan 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sprinkler ( 1 ), includes a sprinkler housing, a fluid channel which is provided in the sprinkler housing and has a fluid inlet ( 10 ) and at least one fluid outlet ( 8 ), a closure element ( 4 ), which is movable from a blocking position into a release position, wherein the closure element ( 4 ) closes the fluid channel in the blocking position and releases same in the release position, a thermally activatable triggering element ( 25 ), which keeps the closure element ( 4 ) in the blocking position until thermally activated, and a sealing element ( 5 ), which is arranged between the sprinkler housing and the closure element ( 4 ) and is designed to close the fluid channel in a fluid-tight manner in the blocking position. A sealing element ( 5 ) is radially and axially compressed in the blocking position in order to apply the sealing effect.

Claims (30)

1. A sprinkler, comprising

a sprinkler housing,

a fluid channel having a sealing surface which is provided in the sprinkler housing and has a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,

a closure element, which is movable from a blocking position into a release position,

wherein the closure element closes the fluid channel in the blocking position and releases same in the release position, the closure element having a groove,

a thermally activatable triggering element, which keeps the closure element in the blocking position until thermally activated, and

a sealing element, which is arranged at least partially into the groove and between the sprinkler housing and the closure element and is designed to close the fluid channel in a fluid-tight manner in the blocking position,

wherein the sealing element is radially and axially compressed in the blocking position in order to apply the sealing effect,

wherein the sealing element is directly pressed in the blocking position against the sealing surface which expands in a release direction,

wherein the expanding sealing surface is formed on the sprinkler housing, and

wherein the sealing element is located within the sprinkler housing in the blocking position and the release position.

2. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is of at least partially conical design.

3. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the sealing element is selected from the list consisting of: an O ring, quad ring, multi-lip sealing ring, X ring or V ring, or in the form of a combination of a plurality of said sealing elements.

4. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the expanding sealing surface which is of at least partially conical design has a cone angle α 1 which lies within an angular range of 5° to 60°.

5. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is at least partially curved convexly.

6. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is at least partially curved concavely.

7. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the closure element has an axially extending sealing surface against which the sealing element is pressed in the blocking position.

8. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the closure element further comprises a radially extending sealing surface against which the sealing element is pressed in the blocking position.

9. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the closure element has a radially extending sealing surface against which the sealing element is pressed in the blocking position.

10. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler housing has a main body and a passage unit, wherein the fluid inlet and/or the expanding sealing surface are formed on the passage unit.

11. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the main body has a connection unit for fastening the sprinkler to an extinguishing fluid supply, a receiving channel for receiving a fluid entry channel, a nozzle head, and a cage,

wherein a distribution chamber from which the at least one fluid outlet extends is formed in the interior of the nozzle head, and

wherein the cage defines a cage compartment for receiving the thermal triggering element.

12. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the closure element has a second sealing surface which is tapered in the release direction, and the sprinkler housing has a third sealing surface which is tapered in the release direction, wherein the second and third sealing surfaces lie against each other in the release position of the closure element.

13. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is of at least partially conical design.

14. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is at least partially curved convexly.

15. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the expanding sealing surface is at least partially curved concavely.

16. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises an asymmetrical groove.

17. The sprinkler of claim 16 , wherein the asymmetrical groove comprises a radial extending sealing surface and an axially extending sealing surface.

18. The sprinkler of claim 17 , wherein the closure element comprises a projection adjacent the asymmetrical groove.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF LEGAL FORM Recorded Dec 22, 2021
From: MINIMAX GMBH & CO. KG
To: MINIMAX GMBH
Reel/Frame 058563/0696 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2018
From: SCHNELL, STEFAN; ROENNFELDT, FRANK
To: MINIMAX GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 045949/0470 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 219 208 · Oct 5, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180304109A1 · Oct 25, 2018