Flush Head For Fire Protection Sprinkler System

Abstract

This invention relates to flushing devices for fire protection sprinkler systems and more particularly to improvements in a flush head to be utilized with each sprinkler head at the end of main or branch lines. In this device the fluid inlet passageway is positioned at substantially a right angle to the sprinkler supply passageway to provide improved flushing characteristics for the system. A rotatably actuable valve allows the system to be flushed while maintaining fluid pressure on the sprinkler head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in flush heads for fire protection sprinkler systems and more particularly to a flush head device which provides an improved pattern of fluid flow during the flush cycle.

In brief, this invention comprises a flush head in which the inlet passageway is at a right angle to the sprinkler passageway and in which a flush valve is interposed between the inlet passageway and a flush or exit passageway. With this passageway configuration the flush fluid containing particles of foreign matter flows at substantially a right angle to the sprinkler passageway, thereby materially reducing the opportunity for particles of foreign matter to become lodged in the sprinkler passageway and obstruct the fluid flow to the sprinkler head.

In this invention the flush valve and the connection for the sprinkler head are entirely independent and the flush valve is positioned so that it is readily accessible when the flush head is installed in the sprinkler system. The separation of the sprinkler head connection and the flush valve lessens the chance of the sprinkler head being accidentally damaged when the flush valve is being manipulated and it also prevents the threads of the flush valve from being damaged when the sprinkler is installed. In some embodiments of this invention the flush valve is positioned so that when the flush head is installed in an overhead sprinkler system, the flush valve can be manipulated from the floor below by the use of an extended arm socket.

A prior art reference known to the inventor is Hebert U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,702 which is presently held by the inventor's assignee. This reference discloses a flush head in which the inlet passageway is aligned with the sprinkler passageway. With this configuration the particles of foreign matter are propelled toward the sprinkler passageway and sprinkler head by the motion of the fluid when the flush valve is opened. The alignment of the inlet and the sprinkler passageways also provides a flush head design which positions the sprinkler head at a considerable distance from the conduit of the sprinkler system, thereby making it difficult to install the flush head in existing sprinkler systems in which the conduit is located close to the ceiling of the building to be protected.

In the Hebert reference the sprinkler head is screwed into the hexagonal head portion of the flush valve, thereby making it inconvenient to manipulate the flush valve and subjecting the sprinkler head to a substantial chance of being accidentally damaged when the flush valve is being manipulated. Furthermore, the flush valve of the Hebert reference is not positioned so that it can be readily manipulated with an extended arm socket used by plant protection personnel standing on the floor. In view of the many substantial advantages of the present invention which are not disclosed or anticipated by the Hebert reference, this invention represents a patentable improvement in flush heads for fire protection sprinkler systems.

This invention relates to an improved device for flushing fire sprinkler systems to remove the foreign matter from the conduits of the system to prevent the obstruction of the flow therein and more particularly to improvements in a testing and flush head which is interposed between the conduit and a heat-fusible sprinkler head.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a testing and flush device with improved flushing characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush head in which the flushing valve is readily accessible after the device is installed in a fire sprinkler system.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush head which is less susceptible to being damaged during installation of the head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush head in which a heat-fusible sprinkler mounted on the head is less susceptible to being struck and damaged when the flush valve is being manipulated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush head of compact design with a low profile to facilitate installation of the device in close quarters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush head which reduces the time and labor cost involved in flushing a fire protection system.

Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims in which there is found the manner of making and using the invention in the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

Drawings accompany this disclosure and the various views thereof may be described as:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of a first embodiment of an improved fire protection sprinkler flush head.

FIG. 2, a sectional view on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a side elevational view in section of a second embodiment of an improved fire protection sprinkler flush head.

FIG. 4 a side elevational view in section of a third embodiment of an improved fire protection sprinkler flush head.

FIG. 5 a side elevational view of an extended arm socket.

Referring to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, a main body 10 of a flush head having a heat-fusible sprinkler head designated generally as 12 mounted thereon and connected to a conduit 14 of a sprinkler system is shown. The main body 10 has a fluid inlet passageway 16, a sprinkler passageway 18 which is at substantially a right angle to and communicates with the inlet passageway, and a flush passageway 20 which communicates with the inlet passageway 16. A flush control valve means 22 is interposed between the inlet passageway 16 and the flush passageway 20. The flush valve 22 is comprised of a tubular section 24 having an aperture 26, a threaded section 28, a groove 30 to retain an O-ring, and a hexagonal-shaped head 32 to facilitate rotating and controlling the flush valve. The flush valve 22 threadingly engages the body 10 and an O-ring 34 provides a seal between the flush valve 22 and the body 10. An exterior surface 36 of the tubular section 28 and a corresponding surface 38 of the body 10 provide a slip fit which is an effective seal between the exterior surface of the flush valve and the main body.

As shown in FIG. 2, rotating the flush valve 22, 180.degree. from the position shown in FIG. 1 allows the inlet passageway 16 to communicate with the flush passageway 20. An optional removable cap 40 having a washer 42 threadingly engages an exterior surface 44 of the flush passageway 20. A chain assembly 46 attached to the cap 40 and the main body 10 prevents the accidental loss of the removable cap 40. The optional cap 40 prevents any minor leakage from the flush head and it also prevents the polished exterior surface 36 from being exposed to airborne contaminants.

In FIG. 3, a second embodiment of a flush head with a main body 10 having an inlet passageway 16, a sprinkler passageway 18, a flush passageway 20, and a flush valve 22 is shown. In this embodiment the flush valve 22 is positioned in the flush passageway 20. In this embodiment the flush valve 22 comprises a tubular section 48 with an aperture 50, a threaded portion 52, an O-ring groove 54, and a hexagonal-shaped portion 56 for rotating and controlling the flush valve. An exterior surface 58 of the flush valve 22 and a corresponding surface 60 of the body 10 are machined for a slip fit to provide a seal between the flush valve and the main body.

An O-ring 62 also helps to maintain the seal between the valve and the main body. When the valve 22 is in the position in the main body 10 that is shown in FIG. 3, a fluid can flow through the flush passageway 20; and when the valve 22 is rotated 180.degree. from the position shown in FIG. 3, the aperture 50 is sealed by the surface 60 thereby preventing fluid from flowing through the flush passageway. An optional cap 40 and a chain 46 is also shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4, a third embodiment of a flush head with a main body 10 having an inlet passageway 16, a sprinkler passageway 18, a flush passageway 20, and a flush valve 22 is shown. In this embodiment the flush valve 22 comprises a solid cylindrical rod 62 with an aperture 64, a threaded portion 66, an O-ring groove 68, and a hexagonal portion 70 for rotating and controlling the valve. An exterior surface 72 of the rod 62 and a corresponding surface 74 of the main body 10 are machined for a slip fit to provide a seal between the valve 22 and the body 10. An O-ring 76 also helps to provide a seal between the valve 22 and the main body. When the valve 22 is in the position shown in FIG. 4, a fluid under pressure in the inlet passageway 16 can flow through the flush passageway 20; and when the valve 22 is rotated 90.degree. from the position shown, the aperture 64 is sealed by the surface 74, thereby preventing fluid from flowing from the inlet passageway 16 to the flush passageway 20. An optional cap 40 and chain assembly 46 is also shown in this embodiment.

In all three embodiments of this invention the inlet passageway 16, sprinkler passageway 18, and flush passageway 20 are arranged so that the path or direction of fluid flow through the inlet passageway 16 is at substantially a right angle to the path of fluid flow through the sprinkler passageway 18 when the flush valve 22 is open and fluid is flowing through the flush passageway 20. This configuration of passageways provides a flush head with improved flushing characteristics because, the particles of foreign matter that are suspended in and traveling with the flush fluid are moving at a right angle to the sprinkler passageway thereby minimizing the amount of foreign matter that might enter the sprinkler passageway 18 during the flush cycle and, in fact, creating an aspirating effect to remove particles that might have floated into the sprinkler passageway during a period of nonuse.

In all three embodiments of this invention the flush valve 22 is completely independent of the sprinkler head connection and is positioned so that it can be readily manipulated without interference from or with the sprinkler head 12. Since the sprinkler head connection and the flush valve are completely independent there is less chance of the threads 28, 52 or 66 of the control valve being damaged during installation of the sprinkler head 12 in the flush head. In all three embodiments of this invention the flush valve 22 is positioned so that it is readily accessible after the flush head is installed in a fire sprinkler system. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the flush valve 22 is positioned so that when the flush head is installed in an overhead sprinkler system the valve 22 can be adjusted from the floor below. To facilitate the manipulation of the valve 22 from the floor below the flush head, a socket 72 adapted to fit over the hex-head portion 70 or 56 of the valve 22 on a long hollow extension arm 74, as shown in FIG. 5, is used by plant protection personnel to open the valve and flush directly into a waiting receptacle.

The use of a sprinkler head as shown in FIGS. 3 or 4 and the extended arm socket 74 reduces the time and labor cost involved in flushing an overhead fire protection system because plant protection personnel do not have to use ladders or climb into the superstructure of the building in order to reach and manipulate the flush valve 22. In all three embodiments of this invention the flush head is of a compact low profile in-line design which facilitates the installation of the invention in close quarters because the sprinkler head 12 is closer to the centerline of the sprinkler conduit 14 and inlet passageway 16. In addition, the present design provides a built-in elbow so that it may be mounted directly on the end of a pipe.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A protective flushing unit for application to a fire protection sprinkler system which includes a fluid supply line and in which a sprinkler head is mounted on the flushing unit which comprises; an elongate unitary body with a low profile having a longitudinal inlet passage extending therein, one end of the body at one end of said longitudinal passage serving as an entrance end adapted to threadingly engage and be supported by, and in coaxial relation to, a horizontal fluid supply line, a sprinkler head passage in said body at substantially a right angle to said longitudinal passage and connected thereto downstream from said entrance end, said sprinkler head passage opening to the exterior of said body with said opening being adapted to threadingly engage the base of a sprinkler head to mount the sprinkler head close to said longitudinal passage, a flush passage in said body connected to said longitudinal passage downstream from both said sprinkler head passage connection thereto and said entrance end and opening to the exterior of said body, and valve means mounted in said body and operably connected with said flush passage and said longitudinal passage downstream from both said sprinkler head passage connection thereto and said entrance end, said valve means being movable to selective positions to close and open said flush passage, whereby when said flush passage is open it will permit a flow of fluid in the longitudinal passage from the entrance end past the sprinkler head passage connection and thence through the flush passage to the exterior of said elongate body.

2. A flush unit as defined in claim 1 in which said valve means includes a portion projecting from said body independent of and spaced from said sprinkler head passage to permit external control of said valve means, whereby movement of said projecting portion to selective positions will close and open said valve means.

3. A flush unit as defined in claim 2 in which said valve means comprises a hollow tubular section having an aperture therein and being closed at one end which is mounted for axial rotation in the longitudinal passage, whereby rotation of the tubular section controls fluid flow from said longitudinal passage to said flush passage.

4. A flush unit as defined in claim 2 in which the valve means comprises a cylindrical plug carried by said body and disposed in part in said longitudinal passage for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal passage, said plug having a passage therethrough adapted to communicate with said longitudinal passage in at least one position of rotation of said plug, whereby rotary movement of said plug to one position closes said longitudinal passage and rotation of said plug to another position opens said longitudinal passage.